§ 76. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take in the case of firms who, being unable to provide information required in questions contained on Form 144 issued by his Department in connection with the Partial Census of Production, decline to act on the requirement contained in Part A, paragraph 1 of the form that they should supply an answer based on guesswork by reason of the inconsistency of any such answer with the declaration which requires to be completed on page 2 of the form.
§ Mr. BelcherThe requirement referred to, which states that "where accurate figures are not available, the best estimates practicable should be given," was a concession which was welcomed by industry generally. Such estimates would not appear to be inconsistent with the declaration on page 2 of the form and I am not aware that any firm has declined to provide estimates on the grounds of any such alleged inconsistency. If the hon. Member knows of a case of peculiar difficulty, perhaps he will let me know.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the declaration to which he has referred demands that the form should certify that the information is complete and correct; and how can information, which is simply an estimate in the absence of accurate information, come within that declaration?
§ Mr. BelcherIt is complete and correct to the best of the firm's ability to provide the information.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIf the firm objects to signing this declaration, will the Parliamentary Secretary take any action against them?
§ Mr. BelcherI will have to consider each case on its merits.