Census to be axed in Britain

London (IANS)- The census is to be scrapped in Britain after over 200 years because the government feels the official exercise is too expensive.

The population count will be replaced by more regular checks on numbers using existing public and private databases, including credit reference agencies, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

Francis Maude, the cabinet office minister, said the census, which takes place every 10 years, was an expensive and inaccurate way of measuring the number of people in Britain.

The suggestion is likely to be approved by cabinet next week.

It will be too late to prevent the next census March 27, 2011 from going ahead although Maude said he was looking at ways of reducing the 482 million pounds cost.

Britain has carried out a census every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941 during World War II.

Maude told The Daily Telegraph that the government was looking for a "fundamentally" better way of doing it.

"There are, I believe, ways of doing this which will provide better, quicker information, more frequently and cheaper," he said.