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Treasury

Answer

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral statement of the Economic Secretary on 5 July 2000, Official Report, Standing Committee D, column 15, with whom the status of the commitment to ensure that census forms will read, "What is your religion? This question is voluntary, has been checked;" and if he will make a statement. [131365] Miss Melanie Johnson: Under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Census Act 1920, for the purpose of enabling any Order in Council directing a census to be taken to be carried into effect, the Chancellor of the Exchequer may make regulations with respect to the forms to be used in the taking of a census. If the Census (Amendment) Bill, as currently drafted were to become law, then subsequent to the necessary Amendment Order being made providing for particulars in respect of religion to be added to those already approved by Parliament for inclusion in the 2001 Census, I will make, on behalf of the Chancellor, regulations setting out the form and wording of the particular question on religion to be included on the 2001 Census forms. This would include the statement that the question is voluntary. Legal advisers for the Office for National Statistics have confirmed that the authority to include such a statement on the census form would fall within the provision of Section 3(1) of the Act, once the Act has been amended to provide for such particulars to be included without penalty for not doing so. In my statement to the Standing Committee D on 5 July, I announced my intention to make such a statement on the 2001 Census form to be included in regulations, should the Bill receive Royal Assent.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

354 c689W; 131365

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Census Forms Religion Questionnaires

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk