Censuses

HC Deb 24 July 1978 vol 954 cc550-2W

Mr. John Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of returns made in each census for which figures are available; and what 100 per cent. would have produced in numbers of total returns for the same period.

Mr. Moyle

A single return may apply to a person, a household, or an institution; the number of returns is not available but the number of persons in England and Wales returned in recent censuses has been:

1951	43,757,888
1961	46,104,548
1971	48,749,575

The census in this country covers an overwhelming proportion of the population. In 1951 and 1961 the estimated percentage covered was 99.69 and 99.98 respectively. In 1971 a detailed study was undertaken and it was estimated that there had been a net over-enumeration of 0.01 per cent.; this was attributed to persons being returned as present on census night at more than one address.

Mr. John Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many compulsory questions were asked in each of the censuses for which such details are available.

Mr. Moyle

Using, so far as practicable, a comparable definition of what constitutes a single question, the numbers of questions—or parts—asked at each census in England from 1841 onwards have been as follows:

1841	8
1851	8
1861	8
1871	8
1881	8
1891	12
1901	11
1911	17
1921	13
1931	11
1951	20
1961	33
1971	32

In Wales, there has been an additional question on Welsh language from 1891 onwards.

Mr. John Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of the census for each census for which figures are available.

Mr. Moyle

The cost charged to the Census Vote of the General Register Office for England and Wales is as follows:

	£000
1851	94
1861	96
1871	120
1881	123
1891	121
1901	148
1911	162
1921	351
1931	300
1951	1,550
1961	3,100
1971	13,500

From 1951 the figures include also sums chargeable to the Votes of Departments other than the General Register Office.

Mr. John Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there was no discussion in the White Paper on the 1981 census, Command Paper No. 7146, on how much of a census needs to be compulsory as opposed to voluntary.

Mr. Moyle

The Census Act 1920 provides no basis for voluntary questions.