If an application is made to F3 the Minister for the Cabinet Office (in relation to England and Wales) or the Scottish Ministers (in relation to Scotland) by a local authority to which this section applies asking that a census may be taken for the whole or any part of the area of the authority, or for an area consisting of the whole or any part of that area and of the whole or any part of an adjoining area, F4the Minister for the Cabinet Office or the Scottish Ministers may, if he thinks fit F5or they think fit, submit the application to His Majesty, and His Majesty may by Order in Council, if it appears to His Majesty expedient so to do for the purpose of facilitating the due performance by the local authority of its statutory duties, direct that a census shall be taken for the area specified in the application, or for any part of that area.

The provisions of this Act with respect to the taking of a census for Great Britain (other than the provision with respect to the interval between one census and another) shall, subject to such exceptions, modifications and adaptations as may be specified in the Order, apply to the taking of a census under this section.

The local authorities to which this section applies are the common council of the City of London, F1London borough councils, the councils of counties, the councils of boroughs, and F2the councils of districts: