§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether or not the occupier of a premises which is not his usual residence, and will be unoccupied on census night, should complete and return a census form in respect of that premises, or section A only, or section A and section C only.
§ Sir K. JosephThe Census Order and Regulations do not require a return to be made for premises which are not the usual residence of any person, providing no person occupies those premises on Census night. Such premises, however, will be counted in the housing stock as the enumerator makes a record of them.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many enumerators have been convicted to date for disclosing information in the 1961 census; and how many persons have been convicted for failing to provide the necessary information, or giving incorrect information, at that census.
§ Sir K. JosephNo cases of enumerators disclosing information in the 1961 census were reported, so there were no proceedings, let alone convictions. The number of persons convicted for failing to provide information was 87.
483W
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how Members of Parliament should fill in their Census forms, whereby they are classified as self-employed, with the House of Commons offices being given as their employer's name and address; how they should fill in details of their employment; and, as these particulars are contradictory, how the computer will be able to deal with the information on a factual basis.
§ Sir K. JosephHon. and right hon. Members should in the usual case record that they are self-employed, that their occupation is "Member of Parliament" and that their place of work is the House of Commons. They are not asked to give the name and address of their employer, but the name and nature of their business. But where a Member is engaged in employment or business additional to Membership of this House, it is for each Member to decide which of his activities constitutes his major employment or business and to record details of that in questions B15 to B17. There is no harm in a respondent giving details of two jobs providing he indicates which is the main one, since the Census asks for details only of themain employment or business and not of any other employment or business.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State of State for Social Services in view of the fact that the Census explanatory form, Why this Census Form is Vital, LP7BG states that facts are not to be given to any other Government Departments, if he will give details of how the accuracy and authenticity of the statements made by the form fillers are to be checked; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what specific methods it is proposed to adopt to enable the Census organisation to check whether information in census returns is correct without reference to other Government Departments.
§ Sir K. JosephSmall-scale sample surveys by interview are conducted to assess the accuracy of Census responses; these surveys are voluntary and are carried out by the Census organisation.
484WA fuller description of the kinds of methods it is proposed to use is given in the General Report on the 1961 Census.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether persons who may not be sure of their place of origin of birth, or their parents place and country of birth, when filling in the Census form may state details unknown; and if he will supply details of how this may be checked in view of the strict confidentiality of the information given by the form fillers.
§ Sir K. JosephOnly country of birth, and not place of birth, is asked for in the Census form.
If a person does not know his, or his parents', country of birth and cannot find this out, he should enter "Not known" against the particular question on the form.
A description of methods used to check Census results is given in the General Report on the 1961 Census.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the Registrar-General is prepared to accept either husband or wife as titular head of the household in the Census returns; whether in the case of joint heads in a household the forms may be signed by husband or wife or both; if he is satisfied that the public are aware of the position; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephCensus forms will be accepted in which either the husband or the wife appears as the titular head of the household, and which have been signed by the husband or wife or both. Census enumerators will explain this to anyone in doubt.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the questions asked in the 1971 Official Census that were not asked in the official Census of 1961, for each question stating the reasons for its inclusion.
§ Sir K. JosephOther than questions which have been modified since 1961 the questions in the present Census that were not asked in the 1961 Census are:
In respect of any person not born in the United Kingdom—
485WThe year of first entry into the United Kingdom.
Country of birth of father and of mother.
Usual residence five years before Census day.
In respect of each married woman, or woman who has been married, aged under 60 years—
The month and year of birth of each child born alive to her in marriage.
In respect of any person over 15—
Whether he has obtained a General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level or certain equivalent qualifications.
In respect of any person over 15 who was in employment during the week preceding Census day—
The main means of transport used for the journey to work.
The occupation one year before Census day.
Whether the household shares with anyone else the use of any room, or of any hall, passage, landing or staircase for access or otherwise, and the number of shared rooms.
The number of motor cars and vans normally available for use by members of the private household.
The reasons for their inclusion are given in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the debate on the Census Order of 17th February, 1970. Six question which appeared in 1961 are not however included in the present form.—[Vol. 796, c. 329–358.]