(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the[F1 First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly may by order] from time to time direct that a census of population shall be taken in Northern Ireland.
(2)An[F1 order] under subsection (1) may prescribe—
(a)the date on which the census is to be taken;
(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.
(3)An[F1 order] shall not be made under this section so as to require—
(a)a census to be taken in Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland; or
(b)any particulars to be stated other than particulars with respect to such matters as are mentioned in the Schedule.
[F1(4)An order shall not be made under this section unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Assembly.]
F1SI 1999/663