§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if a decision has been reached about whether there will be a mid-term census of population in 1986.
§ Mr. FowlerThe Government have decided that the case for a mid-term census in 1986 in England, Wales and Scotland is not sufficiently strong to justify the cost and burden on the public which would be involved. Planning will therefore proceed on the assumption that the next census will be in 1991. Further consideration will be given in due course to whether alternative sources might help to provide useful information on population and other matters in the mid-1980s.