Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 June 2006. It was answered by John Healey (Labour) on Monday, 5 June 2006 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Census

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration has been given to including a question on scheduled caste in the next census.

Answer: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 June 2006:"As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what consideration has been given to including a question on scheduled caste in the next census. (73901)""An extensive consultation exercise was undertaken last year with users of census data which resulted in over 2,000 responses. No requirement for a question on scheduled caste was identified and so such a question is not being considered for the 2011 Census. A report on the findings of the consultation exercise was published on 8 March 2006—‘The 2011 Census: Assessment of initial user requirements on content for England and Wales’ and can be found on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/consultations/2011Census_response.asp""It is not possible to confirm what questions are to be included in the 2011 Census until the consultation and testing programme is complete and formal approval is given by Parliament in 2010. A White Paper setting out the Government’s proposals is scheduled to be published in Autumn 2008."

Secondary information