§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the reason for the delay in publishing the figures relating to the annual census of employment.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe results of the June 1977 census of employment for Great Britain as a whole were published in theEmployment Gazette at the end of February 1980. For the standard regions and the United Kingdom detailed analyses will be published in the March 1980 issue. Compilation of the June 1978 results began recently and it is hoped that they will be published by the end of this year.
The serious delay in the results stems from problems encountered in the computerisation of the census operation. This was embarked upon in 1976 to achieve a rapid saving in staff but without allowing for adequate preparation and testing of the complex systems involved. Intensive efforts are being made to try to achieve timely publication of census results.