§ 1. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether blank forms such as Z 8, issued during the War, are still being sent to employers asking for information as to the number of employés, idle plant, etc.; whether a number of employers now fail to return the forms; and what is the cost of the printing, issue, and examination of such forms?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Sir Montague Barlow)I have been asked to take this question. The return referred to has been transferred from the Board of Trade to the Ministry of Labour, and a certain amount of duplication will be thereby avoided and considerable economy effected. The return is now issued to employers in a much less elaborate form than during the War, and the question of making the inquiry at less frequent intervals is under consideration. Most of the employers to whom it is issued furnish the information asked for. The cost of printing and of staff is estimated at about £6,400 per annum, which will be materially decreased if the inquiry is made at less frequent intervals.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONCan the hon. Gentleman say exactly what purpose this return serves?
§ Sir M. BARLOWIt was found of great use during the War, and it is still of great utility.
§ Mr. WALLACEAre these returns only partly completed, and what value are they statistically?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI have said that most of the employers make the returns, and we find them of great utility.
§ Mr. WALLACEIf I put down a question, will the hon. Gentleman give the actual percentage of the returns completed?
§ Sir M. BARLOWIf the hon. Gentleman puts a question down, I will do my best to get the information.
§ Sir H. CRAIKMay I ask whether the continuance of this form and similar forms is not a reason and a pretext for increasing and continuing the present large number of officials?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI do not think there is any justification for that, Sir.