HC Deb 10 February 1970 vol 795 c1063
17. Mr. Crouch

asked the Minister of Public Building 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.

Mr. Loughlin

A general change is in progress toward a unified system of governmental statistics, including the collection and processing of statistics by the Business Statistics Office. Discussions with the building materials industries started last year, and negotiations with the contractors' organisations will follow this year.

Mr. Crouch

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is growing scepticism in the industry about the worth-whileness of all this information being collected by three Government Departments? Does the Parliamentary Secretary think that it is worth while in getting the industry anywhere?

Mr. Loughlin

We must face the fact that certain statistics have to be collated. It is desirable to have a system whereby there is the minimum degree of effort on the part of the industry in supplying the required information. This is what we are aiming at now. There may be duplications, but when we amend forms of this kind we consult the interests concerned so that we can eliminate duplication as far as possible. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that I want to see the minimum of effort expended on obtaining this information. If he has any particular information that he would like to give to me, he can either send it or discuss it with me.