§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the methods and questions used by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys; and if he will ensure that all accredited representative organisations of immigrants will be consulted before finalising its report in preparation for the next census.
§ Mr. MoyleThe methods and questions used by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys vary greatly, but they all aim to secure efficiency of operation and a proper balance between the purpose served and the convenience of the public. To this end, pilot trials of methods and questions are carried out before their use in censuses and surveys. The Registrar General is in the process of consulting widely on the content of, 113W and output from, the next Census, and immigrants' organisations will be among those consulted; he has told me that he will welcome submissions made to him, with or without invitation, from any source, and he will consider them most carefully.