asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that questions relating to car ownership and car availability are included in the proposed 1981 census of population.

The Government's proposals for the 1981 census of population are set out in the draft census order recently laid before the House. In order to reduce demands on the public the proposals have been confined to topics which the Government regard as essential. For this reason, questions relating to car ownership and car availability were not included.