§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that more than 200 complaints were made to the Registrar General's Office that Census forms had not been received; whether an extended period for return of their completed forms will be permitted; under what stautory authority such extensions will be granted; what action will be taken against those responsible; and what estimate he has made of the effect of such delays on the accuracy of the Census.
§ Sir K. JosephI am grateful to members of the public who have notified the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys that they had not received a Census form. In such cases the forms will have been delivered and collected as soon as practicable and any extension of time needed does not require statutory authority. Since failure to deliver the forms originally can be assumed to have been inadvertent, no action against those responsible would be appropriate and I do not expect that it will affect the accuracy of the Census to any significant degree.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it was with his authority that the Registrar General made a radio and Press announcement giving the numbers of prosecutions which took place in connection with the last Census; and whether he will take action to ensure that all statements connected with the present Census which could in any way affect confidentiality are only made with his personal authority or to the House of Commons.
§ Sir K. JosephThe interviews given by the Registrar General were given with my approval. I have full confidence in him and his staff in regard to any statements they may make on the conduct of the Census. The House has on more than310W one occasion accepted the assurances on the confidentiality of Census information given both by the present Government and by their predecessors in office.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give further particulars explaining how the small-scale sample by interviews are conducted to assess the accuracy of the Census responses; whether these voluntary surveys carried out by the Census organisation include persons sworn to secrecy; whether each road, street, town, or county area is covered; on past experiences how accurate these surveys have proved to be; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe voluntary surveys will be carried out by staff of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, who are subject to the Official Secrets Act. On the other points in the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the General Report on the 1961 Census.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give a detailed list of the number of enumerators appointed for the Census survey and now they were selected, showing the number who were, on selection and appointment, civil servants, local government officers, tax inspectors and other stated categories; and what action was taken to give preference of appointments to retirement pensioners and other persons who were physically disabled but fit enough to carry out these duties.
§ Sir K. JosephApproximately 105,000 enumerators have been appointed by local census officers and assistant census officers on the basis of applications submitted. No comprehensive information is available centrally on their normal occupations. Preference was not given to pensioners or physically disabled people, because the enumerator's task involves an amount of walking and climbing stairs which normally makes it unsuitable for them.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that, on Sunday, 25th April, 1971, several persons publicly and with malice aforethought tore up, burnt and otherwise destroyed in public their Census forms, and that this action was 311W planned; what action his officials took to be present to witness this demonstration; what legal action has been, or will be, taken against those responsible; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephI am aware that certain persons burnt or otherwise destroyed their Census forms and that on at least one occasion this was witnessed by a member of the Registrar General's staff. No immediate legal action is being taken against them but those failing to return a Census form in such circumstances are being given a further copy to fill in.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he can give an assurance that, as public statements and announcements affecting the secret and confidential nature of the Census have been made by officials connected with the Census Office, he will cause an investigation to be made to ensure that such leaks will not occur from the Census Office and his Department when the Census forms are completed.
§ Sir K. JosephNo statement about the Census by any member of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys has disclosed confidential information, can be regarded as a "leak" in any sense of the word, or required any investigation. The Office will continue to ensure that there is no disclosure of confidential information.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that Census enumerators have been and are writing to the press, giving details of their activities in interviewing persons and quoting responses received on matters connected with their duties as enumerators, he will state to what extent this abrogates their undertaking of secrecy and why these persons like full time civil servants are not precluded by their terms of employment from writing to the press on matters and information gained whilst carrying out their public duties.
§ Sir K. JosephAny instance in which an enumerator appears to have disclosed information in contravention of his pledge of secrecy will be investigated immediately. I see no reason why the terms of employment of enumerators should pre-312W clude them from writing otherwise to the press about their work.