§ 57. Mr. David Huntasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what procedures exist to oversee the activities of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.
§ Mr. MoyleThe Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is administered by the Director and Registrar General who104W is appointed by Her Majesty and personally exercises powers conferred upon him by Acts of Parliament. My right hon. Friend has some ministerial responsibility for the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and approves any regulations which the Registrar General may make and exercises statutory powers over some of the statistical work. Other Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Security can act on his behalf, and I take a particular interest in OPCS matters because of their links with health and personal social services. As my right hon. Friend the then Prime Minister stated on 18th December 1969—[Vol. 793, c. 410–11]—the statistical divisions of the OPCS have been closely linked with the Central Statistical Office and the Director of the Central Statistical Office. The Registrar General, under the general direction of Ministers, guides the direction and programming of its surveys, censuses and statisctial work. Close links are maintained between OPCS and the General Register Office for Scotland. The policy requirements of social surveys undertaken by OPCS for other Government Departments are the responsibility for the individual Minister concerned.