Census of Employment

HC Deb 02 April 1980 vol 982 cc211-2W

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) when he expects to publish the census of employment;

(2) if he will arrange to update more frequently essential employment information supplied by the statistical division of this Department, in view of the problems that arise when using data which is three and a half years out of date.

Mr. Jim Lester

The results of the June 1977 census of employment for Great Britain were published inDepartment of Employment Gazette for February 1980. For the standard regions and the United Kingdom, detailed analyses will be published in the March issue. Compilation of June 1978 results is proceeding and it is hoped that those for Great Britain will be published by the end of this year.

The delay of two and a half years in publishing the results for 1977 is regretted. It was a consequence of a decision in 1976 to computerise the census operation in order to make a large staff saving but without provision for sufficient preparation and testing. Intensive efforts have been and are being made to overcome the problems. For the census proposed for next year it is planned to produce results within a year.

The provision of employment information and its frequency is within the scope of Sir Derek Rayner's review of the Government Statistical Service.