questions about marriage and children were again included , as they had been at the 1911 and 1951 censuses . the former had asked for marriage details for all married women , the latter for all married women under the age of 50 . the 1961 census questions related to all women who were or had been married , and so repeated the enquiry made fifteen years earlier by the 1946 family census conducted on behalf of the royal commission on population . the questions about children were the same as in 1951 , except that they extended to all women who were or had been married . it was not regarded as practicable within the limits of the census to include particulars about the date of birth of each child , as had been done in the specialised enquiry for the royal commission . the innovation at the 1961 census , though the family census had previously included the question , was the date of termination of the first or only marriage . this enables statistical use to be made of their experience as regards duration of marriage and number of children in the case of women whose first or only marriage was terminated by widowhood or divorce after the end of their child bearing life . this is particularly important in estimating the trends in the size and pattern of families for successive generations over as long a period as possible , as the proportion of widows predominates in the higher age groups . in Wales and Monmouthshire the question on the ability to speak Welsh was included as previously . the question was first asked in 1891 , and was given its present form in 1931 . each census since the first in 1801 has included questions about housing and households . in 1961 the scope of the question was wider than before , because of the great use of the data to the ministry of housing and local government and to local authorities . as before , the record made during the enumeration lists all buildings , residential premises and temporary places of abode , and all households occupying them , as the basis of the enumeration is the household schedule . the number of structurally separate dwellings ( that is , houses or flats or other quarters built or adapted for separate occupation and forming a private and structurally separate unit ) was obtained as previously , together with the number of households with sole occupation or sharing such dwellings , and the number of living rooms occupied by each household . in 1961 the enumerators were asked to note whether the building was wholly or partly residential , and whether it contained one or more dwellings . in 1951 questions had been included to throw light on housing conditions . in 1961 the questions about piped water supply , water closet and fixed bath were repeated as before , with the addition of a new question about hot water supply ; the 1951 questions about cooking stove or range and kitchen sink were restricted to households sharing dwellings . a new question asked about housing tenure , whether the accommodation occupied by each household was held by them as owner-occupiers ; occupied in connection with employment or as part of business premises ; rented from a council ( or new town corporation ) or a private landlord ( if so , whether furnished or unfurnished ) ; or occupied on some other terms . the analysis of private households by size and various characteristics of their members has become increasingly important . previously , while visitors were left out of this analysis it was not considered sufficiently important to attempt the task of bringing in the members away from home on census night , which would be very laborious in the absence of information given at their place of usual residence . but the need for a more accurate distribution of households by size as usually constituted had become more important by 1961 , and accordingly a new question was introduced , for private households only , asking for particulars of persons usually living in the household who were absent on census night . the information collected under this head will not affect the main count of population numbers , but will be used solely in the analysis of households by size and other characteristics . sample . - at an early stage of the census preparations consideration was given to possibilities of reducing the amount of clerical work before the census results could be mechanically processed , and the various topics for inclusion were examined to see whether full analysis was required , as previously , or whether sample analysis would serve their main purpose . it appeared that a 10 per cent sample analysis would give adequate results for many subjects , notably the analysis of the working population . the sampling fraction chosen , 10 per cent , was selected partly on grounds of convenience but mostly on an assessment of the likely reliability of figures in the projected tabulations , and of the margins that might be tolerated . the use of sampling in this field reduces the total numbers of staff required in the census office as well as speeding up the production of the census results . the sampling method was introduced at the enumeration stage and the effect of this was to reduce the number of questions for nine tenths of the people . nine out of ten private householders received a form with fewer questions than previously this century . the tenth received a form not much larger in content than the 1951 questionnaire . in other establishments , ( hotels , hospitals , ships , etc , ) the extra questions were asked of every tenth person . the sample was so arranged as to be fully representative over the country as a whole , and everyone had the same possibility of being included . the questions chosen for sample treatment were those relating to occupation , employment , place of work , status in employment education , scientific and technological qualifications change of usual residence or duration of stay at present usual residence , and persons usually resident in private households who were absent on census night . order-in-council . - in accordance with the procedure set out in the census act , 1920 , a draft order-in-council , prescribing the date of the census the persons by whom and with respect to whom the returns were to be made , and the substance of the questions to be asked , was laid before parliament on the 6th April , 1960 . the draft order was explained fully in the House of Commons and was accepted without opposition ; at the same time the House approved the inclusion of questions about the first or only marriage where this had terminated , about housing tenure , education , scientific and technological qualifications change of usual residence in past year or duration of stay at present usual residence . these questions required the affirmative procedure because they are not already specifically authorised by the census act , 1920 . there was a general debate about the draft order in the House of Lords on the 1st June , 1960 , following which the inclusion of these questions was agreed to . the census order , 1960 , ( S.I 1960 no 1062 , ) was made on 23rd June , 1960 . the second schedule containing the substance of the questions is given in appendix C . regulations . - the detailed machinery for the taking of the census and the precise forms of return to be used in all cases were prescribed in the census regulations , 1960 , ( S.I 1960 no 1175 , ) which were signed by the Minister of health on the 11th July , 1960 , and laid before parliament on 18th July . there was no discussion of them in either House . local organization . - ( a ) . census Officers . as at every previous census since 1841 , the local arrangements for the enumeration were based on the area covered by the local registrar of births and deaths , with some modifications of area so that generally the census districts were limited to a maximum of 100 enumeration districts ( that is , approximately 75,000 population ) . thus , there were 1,315 census districts for the 1,184 registration sub-districts . in the main the registrars acted as census Officers ; the 1,315 census Officers comprised 1,093 registrars of births and deaths , 137 other registration officers and 85 others appointed as required . superintendent registrars were appointed to act as census advisory Officers in 115 cases , mainly in the larger centres of population , to deal with enquiries about the census from any quarter , and to recruit and instruct in their general duties a sufficient number of enumerators for the area . the local duties comprised the checking of the boundaries and contents of enumeration districts set out in the draft plans prepared by the central census office , the selection , appointment and instruction of enumerators , control of the enumeration and dealing with enquiries or difficulties from the public . ( b ) . enumerators . the persons appointed to deliver and collect the forms are traditionally called enumerators . they also compile an enumeration record of their district , with the provisional count of numbers and a list of all buildings , residential premises and households . the completeness of the census count depends very largely upon the assiduity with which the enumerator searches for all residential premises and any temporary dwellings , caravans , boats , etc , where anyone may spend census night , and in the confidence which he can inspire in the ordinary householder that the census is necessary and the answers kept secret . there is far more in the job than mere issue and collection of forms . the identification of buildings by type , of structurally separate dwellings and private households is a complex process dependent upon detailed instructions . the census schedules themselves have to be fully understood so that advice can be given to people in difficulty . but above all the work requires tact and courtesy , so that the returns may be secured from the public without friction or offence . instructions for the recruitment of enumerators were sent out in early January . the power of appointment was delegated to the local census Officers , as it was not practicable to exercise central control . guidance was given , and advice or assistance was available in the event of difficulty . to widen the field of recruitment as far as possible , a general press notice was issued , which was very well covered by the local press and notifications were sent to government departments , to local authorities and local education authorities . arrangements were made for close co-operation with the managers of local employment exchanges of the ministry of labour , and , in particular , that census advisory Officers and census Officers should ascertain whether the managers had suitable people to put forward for possible appointment from persons registered with , or applying to , them for employment . as it was essential to select persons who would be willing and available to carry out the duties some weeks ahead , in the main selection was confined to persons able to undertake spare time duties , or housewives and retired persons . some 69,000 enumerators were appointed in England and Wales . as previously many were local government officers and civil servants . applications for appointment were received in great numbers in nearly all urban areas , but in some rural areas there was difficulty in making up the numbers required . instructions were given that as far as practicable no enumerator should be assigned to a district in which he was known by the residents , as people might be reluctant that the confidential information on a census schedule should be made available to an enumerator personally known to them . but this was not always possible , particularly in rural areas . all enumerators signed an undertaking that they understood the nature of their duties and their obligation to keep secret the information collected , and that they were aware of the heavy penalties for any breach of confidence . ( c ) . the enumeration . the basis of the enumeration was , as previously , that forms should be completed for every private household , and for every hospital , hotel or other similar establishment under arrangements made by the persons in charge . the normal private household is the family type with husband , wife and children , but persons living alone or a group of two or more persons living together also constituted households for the census . where accommodation is sub-let and the occupants live on their own , they would be counted as a household , but persons living with a household who usually have at least one meal a day provided by that household while in residence are treated as belonging to that household . 