§ Ms GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys includes questions in the next census to record the number of hours which women and men spend doing unpaid household, caring and voluntary work and to record household income. [24394]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe census offices in Great Britain—Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the General Register Office for Scotland—have started to consult users about information needs for the next census which is being planned for 2001. Some support has already been expressed both for a question on income, and for a question on unpaid work such as housework, voluntary work, and caring for others.
Users have requested more new and revised questions than can be accommodated on the form without placing an undue burden on the public and a preliminary assessment is being made on whether the census is the most appropriate means of collecting the required information. Questions for which there is likely to be a good case will be tested for acceptability to the public, and for the ability of the public to respond with data of a quality adequate to meet users' needs, in a programme which will run over the next three years.
Formal business cases for including particular questions will be considered in early 1998. The Government's proposals will be published later that year, and the final selection of questions will be approved by Parliament.