HC Deb 19 May 1971 vol 817 cc1244-5
5. Mr. John Wells

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make the Government grant to the Countryside Commission conditional on its agreement not to publish such free documents as the Slimbridge Visitor Survey 1969.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Michael Heseltine)

The precise way in which the commission disseminates the results of its work is a matter which my right hon. Friend thinks the commission should be left to decide.

Mr. Wells

Is my hon. Friend aware that this survey was a statistician's benefit, full of absolutely useless information collected for no good purpose, including such questions as "Did the visitor have a picnic?" and "Did the visitor bring his mother-in-law?" This sort of absurdity should be removed from the governmental calendar. This is what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister meant when he said that he would get the Government off our backs. Please will my hon. Friend look at this again and get the Government off our backs?

Mr. Heseltine

I am sure my hon. Friend would agree that the need for detailed information about people using these recreational centres is important. Whilst some of the questions may be open to ridicule, the vast bulk of the questions were very relevant.