HC Deb 09 March 2004 vol 418 cc1472-4W
Mrs. Fitzsimons

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the latest census was broken down by(a) ethnic origin, (b) age, (c) gender and (d) religion; how many constituents in the Rochdale constituency fall into each category (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total population; and what plans he has to revise classification categories. [157505]

Ruth Kelly

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Lorna Fitzsimons, dated 9 March 2004:

As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how the latest census was broken down by (a) ethnic origin, (b) age, (c) gender and (d) religion; how many constituents in the Rochdale constituency fall into each category (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total population; and what consideration he has given to revising existing classification categories. (157505)

The classifications used in the 2001 Census output for ethnic origin, gender and religion are shown in the attached tables. Age ranges are presented in a variety of ways across the prospectus of Census outputs. For Parliamentary Constituencies, data are presented in quinary (five-yearly) age groups.

The requested information for Rochdale Parliamentary constituency is published in the "Census 2001 Report for Parliamentary Constituencies", and its accompanying CD, which includes both national and constituency level tables. A copy of this report is available in the House of Commons Library and is on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/cn_70.asp

The National Statistics website also includes profiles of each local authority area from the 2001 Census. Further detail on the population profile of Rochdale local authority, including age and gender breakdowns, is available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/00bq.asp A more general profile of the Rochdale local authority area, including information on ethnicity and religion, is available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00bq.asp

Updated National Statistics guidelines on the measurement and collection of ethnicity data were published in January 2004 and are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ethnic_group_statistics

These guidelines were produced after consultation with relevant government departments and other organisations, including the Home Office and the Commission for Race Equality. They reflect the need for a balance between the prime requirement for comparability with the 2001 Census while, at the same time, acknowledging the fact that classifications are never set in stone. In particular, the perceptions and descriptions of ethnicity are constantly evolving and it is important that the guidance is periodically reviewed to ensure that it reflects these shifts. The ethnic group question and classification will be reviewed in time for the 2011 Census. This process is likely to begin in 2005.

Ethnic Group Classification

White

  • British
  • Irish
  • Other White

Mixed

  • White and Black Caribbean
  • White and Black African
  • White and Asian
  • Other Mixed

Asian or Asian British

  • Indian
  • Pakistani
  • Bangladeshi
  • Other Asian

Black or Black British

  • Caribbean
  • African
  • Other Black

Chinese or other ethnic group

  • Chinese
  • Other Ethnic Group

Religion Classification

(People stating religion as:)

  • Christian
  • Buddhist
  • Hindu
  • Jewish
  • Muslim
  • Sikh
  • Other religions
  • No religion
  • Religion not stated

Gender Classification

  • Males
  • Females

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