§ 25. Mr. Robert Edwardsasked the Minister of Labour for what purposes the Standard Industrial Classification was drawn up; and whether it was intended to distinguish between industries and services which are more or less important to the national economy.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe Standard Industrial Classification was prepared as a means of securing uniformity and comparability in the statistics published by Government Departments in the United Kingdom. It distinguishes 24 Orders, or major industrial groups, divided into 152 Minimum List Headings.
This classification does not attempt to distinguish between industrial groups on 221W the basis of their importance to the national economy.
§ 26. Mr. Robert Edwardsasked the Minister of Labour whether dairies engaged in the collection of milk from farms, its pasteurisation, bottling and distribution to consumers, are included among manufacturing industries in the Standard Industrial Classification, or among the distributive trades; and what were the considerations which influenced his decision.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe distribution of milk to consumers is classified, under the Standard Industrial Classification, to retail distribution. The collection of milk from farms, its pasteurisation and bottling are activities that are regarded as ancillary to selling the milk to consumers and are therefore regarded as part of the distribution process.