HC Deb 19 April 1971 vol 815 cc360-1W
Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special steps he is taking to ensure that all Commonwealth immigrants who are heads of households are able to understand and complete the census form accurately.

Mr. Alison

The Community Relations Commission has been giving most valuable help in the preparation and running of the census and, in particular, in reassuring any immigrant household who may be apprehensive. Translations of the census form and explanatory leaflets in Bengali, Gujerati, Punjabi, Urdu, Greek and Italian are being made available to any who want them. Enumerators may call upon interpreters in cases of difficulty and, where it is believed that language difficulties may exist, the number of households to be covered by enumerators is being reduced so that they can spend more time helping each household.

Mr. Will Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware of the concern felt by naturalised British subjects at having to declare on the forms provided for the forthcoming census the country of their birth; and whether he will permit such subjects to be excused from answering this question.

Mr. Alison

All persons without exception are required to state their country of birth in the forthcoming census. This information is necessary to analyse internal migration as well as immigration from abroad and to judge the progress of assimilation of immigrants. Census returns are absolutely confidential, and naturalised British subjects need have no fear that their answers will in any way affect their status or their standing in the community.