HC Deb 30 July 1935 vol 304 c2460
16 and 17. Mr. MABANE

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the total annual volume of retail trade for 1934 or for any other year;

(2) the total number of shops in Great Britain?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I regret that I am not in a position to furnish the information for which my hon. Friend asks.

18. Mr. MABANE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will address communications to the National Chamber of Trade and to the Federation of Multiple Shop Proprietors inviting these organisations to co-operate actively with the Board of Trade in the compilation of statistics of retail trade, by encouraging their members to submit monthly returns to the Bank of England in accordance with the scheme at present operated by the Board of Trade?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The sample of retail trade covered by the existing statistics has grown steadily under the present arrangements. I am informed that the compilers have for some time been in touch with the National Chamber of Trade and other associations, as well as with multiple shop proprietors.