HC Deb 08 July 1925 vol 186 cc428-9W
Sir P. RICHARDSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many clerks of his department are employed in the Census of Production Office; and whether, in the interests of economy, he can reduce the number that are occupied in sending out and collecting forms such as M. 2a;

(2) whether he is aware of the cost and inconvenience to which private firms are subjected in the preparation of replies to forms emanating from the Census of Production Office; and whether he will take steps to mitigate such burdens that increasingly press upon industry;

(3) why demands by the Census of Production in Form M 2a are not addressed to the Mining Association of Great Britain and to the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers instead of to private firms and individuals; and what purpose is attained by the compilation of such particulars?

Sir B. CHADWICK

The number of persons at present employed in the Census of Production Office is 114, and the work of issuing and collecting the forms is being carried out with scrupulous regard to economy. The Census of Production Act, 1006, prescribes the classes of persons to whom the Board of Trade shall issue the forms. These classes include (a) the occupier of every factory or workshop within the meaning of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, and (b) the owner, agent, or manager of every mine and quarry. If inquiries were addressed to Trade Associations instead of to individual firms, it would not be possible for the Board to be responsible for the preservation of the strict secrecy of individual returns which is prescribed by the Act of 1906.

Firms who keep adequate books of account for the purposes of their business should be able to fill up the forms without any considerable trouble or appreciable extra cost. In cases, however, in which any considerable difficulty is experienced, the Census Office will be found ready to give advice as to the best procedure to adopt in making the Return

With regard to the purposes of the inquiry, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the speech of the President of the Board of Trade on Monday, and also to an article in the Board of Trade Journal of 28th February, 1924, of which I am sending him a reprint.