HC Deb 19 May 1999 vol 331 cc366-7W
Mr. John M. Taylor

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list(a) the linear metres of storage space occupied by each of the pre-1992 decennial census returns for England and Wales, (b) the actual costs, at current prices, of micro-filming each of the pre-1901 census returns and (c) the average micro-film cost per linear metre, at current prices. [84494]

Mr. Vaz

(a) The space in linear metres occupied by each of the pre-1922 decennial census returns for England and Wales is as follows:

  • 1841: 101
  • 1851: 164
  • 1861: 146
  • 1871: 146
  • 1881: 140

  • 1891: 173
  • 1901: 122
  • 1911: 1,924
  • 1921: 1,375.

(b) It would not be possible to calculate the cost of micro-filming each of the pre-1901 census returns without examining them in detail, which would incur disproportionate cost.

(c) It would not be possible to calculate the average micro-film cost per linear metre without examining them in detail, which would incur disproportionate cost.