HC Deb 04 February 1969 vol 777 cc194-5
17. Miss Harvie Anderson

asked the Minister of Public Buildings and Works what progress he has made since the month of December, 1968 in minimising the duplication of Departmental forms sent to building contractors asking for statistical information; and whether he will make a statement.

19. Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will now announce his proposals for rationalising and reducing the amount of statistical information required by his Department from building contractors under the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947.

Mr. Loughlin

New-style industrial statistics are being planned by inter-Departmental teams under the general direction of the Central Statistical Office, and some 150 industries in the economy are being consulted over the next few years according to a prepared time-table. Negotiations with the first of the building materials industries have started. Discussions with the construction industries will begin early next year.

Miss Anderson

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for some rather vague hope, I am bound to say that the complications in the reply did not give me a great deal of confidence. There are at least three Departments concerned—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]—is that not a fact?

Mr. Loughlin

I ought to congratulate the hon. Lady on getting the question in. I am sorry that the Answer has not satisfied her. I can assure her that it was designed to give her a clear picture of what is going on and to show our attempts to get this new statistical system operating as quickly as possible.

Mr. Baker

Is it not possible to get this new statistical set-up before 1970? At the moment every building company has to make an employment statistics return to three Government Departments. Cannot all this be done through one Government Department?

Mr. Loughlin

As I said, we are dealing with new statistical methods for many industries. These statistics are designed to be of assistance not merely to the Government but to the industries. We are developing the system in consultation with them. I accept that we have to try and ensure that there is no unnecessary duplication in the information supplied to us. If one looks at the Questions on the Order Paper it will be seen that we really need more statistics.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

But could not the hon. Gentleman find out why the Inland Revenue, the Board of Trade and his Department all want separate forms filled up in connection with these employment figures?

Mr. Loughlin

We shall do what we can to have the minimum duplication of statistics. It may well be that in certain circumstances they are required for different Departments. However, I assure the hon. Gentleman that we have examined this matter carefully and we think the timetable is about right.