Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Monday, 8 September 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 September 2003. It was answered by Ruth Kelly (Labour) on Monday, 15 September 2003 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people have been prosecuted for not filling in their census forms in (a) Crosby and (b) the UK. - Inc figures and text of letter from Colin Mowl of the Office for National Statistics.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have been prosecuted for not filling in their census forms in (a) Crosby and (b) the UK. [129452] Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Colin Mowl to Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have been prosecuted for not filling in their census forms in (a) Crosby and (b) in the UK. I am replying in his absence. In England and Wales there were 38 prosecutions for refusal to complete and return a census form. There was one prosecution in the Crosby constituency. Scotland and Northern Ireland conducted their own Censuses and prosecution for refusal to complete and return a census form was the responsibility of the respective Registrars General of these countries. The Office for National Statistics followed a policy of only prosecuting in cases where it had obtained clear and sufficient documentary evidence of a refusal to return a completed Census form.

Secondary information