§ 21. Mr. C. S. Taylorasked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the total cost involved in compiling a list of the names and addresses of traders throughout the country to whom Census of Distribution Forms are to be sent early in 1951; and whether, in view of the fact that a legal obligation rests upon traders to obtain such a form for completion, why his Department is arranging for a personal inspection.
Mr. H. WilsonThe preparation of an up-to-date register of traders is necessary to enable the Board of Trade to discharge its obligations under Section 3 (2) of the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947, to give notice in writing and to issue the forms required to be filled up. The procedure under Section 6 can be used to complete any gaps in the list. The estimated cost of obtaining the names and addresses of traders for the register is £75,000.
§ Mr. TaylorIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a letter has gone out from the statistics division of his Department saying that this list is being compiled by personal inspection? Why is that necessary when there is a legal obligation on traders to register in any case?