Census Act 1920 (c. 41)

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be lawful for His Majesty by Order in Council from time to time to direct that a census shall be taken for Great Britain, or for any part of Great Britain, and any Order under this section may prescribe— (a) the date on which the census is to be taken; and (b) the persons by whom and with respect to whom the returns for the purpose of the census are to be made; and (c) the particulars to be stated in the returns: Provided that— (i) an Order shall not be made under this section so as to require a census to be taken in any part of Great Britain in any year unless at the commencement of that year at least five years have elapsed since the commencement of the year in which a census was last taken in that part of Great Britain; and (ii) no particulars shall be required to be stated other than particulars with respect to such matters as are mentioned in the Schedule to this Act. (2) Before any Order in Council is made under this section, a draft thereof shall be laid before each House of Parliament for a period of not less than twenty days on which that House has sat, and, if either House before the expiration of that period presents an address to His Majesty against the draft or any part thereof, no further proceedings shall be taken thereon, but without prejudice to the making of a new draft Order: Provided that, if by part of any such Order it is proposed to prescribe any particulars with respect to any of the matters mentioned in paragraph six of the Schedule to this Act, that part of the Order shall not have effect unless both Houses by resolution approve that part of the draft, or, if any modifications in that part are agreed to by both Houses, except as so modified. (3) Any Order in Council made under this section may be revoked, amended or varied by a subsequent Order.

(1) It shall be the duty of [ F1 the Statistics Board in relation to England and Wales and the Registrar General for Scotland in relation to Scotland ] to make such arrangements and do all such things as are necessary for the taking of a census in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of any Order in Council or regulations made thereunder, and for that purpose to make arrangements for the preparation and issue of the necessary forms and instructions and for the collection of the forms when filled up. [ F2 (2) The Statistics Board in the exercise of its powers and in the performance of its duties under this Act or under any Order in Council or regulations made thereunder shall be subject to the control of, and comply with any directions given by, the Minister for the Cabinet Office. (2A) The Registrar General for Scotland in the exercise of his powers and in the performance of his duties under this Act or under any Order in Council or regulations made thereunder shall be subject to the control of, and comply with any directions given by, the Scottish Ministers. ] F3 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Textual Amendments F1 Words in s. 2(1) substituted (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18) , s. 74(1) , Sch. 1 para. 2(2) ; S.I. 2008/839 , art. 2 F2 S. 2(2)(2A) substituted for s. 2(2) (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18) , s. 74(1) , Sch. 1 para. 2(3) ; S.I. 2008/839 , art. 2 F3 S. 2(3) repealed (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18) , s. 74(1) , Sch. 1 para. 2(4) , Sch. 4 Pt. 1 ; S.I. 2008/839 , art. 2 Modifications etc. (not altering text) C2 S. 2: functions of the Secretary of State transferred (E.W.) (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/273 , art. 3(1) , Sch. 1 para. 3(a)