HC Deb 23 May 1977 vol 932 cc324-7W
Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost to public funds of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in each of the years 1970 to 1976.

Mr. Moyle

The net cost to the public funds of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in each of the financial years 1970–71 to 1976–77 was as follows:

the following numbers of surveys, in whole or in part, in each of the financial years 1970–71 to 1976–77:

1970–71 20
1971–72 35
1972–73 34
1973–74 31
1974–75 32
1975–76 40
1976–77 33

Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the surveys undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys during 1976.

Mr. Moyle

Surveys undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys involving operational expenditure during the financial year 1976–77 were as follows:

Continuous Surveys

  • Housing Information Survey
  • Family Expenditure Survey
  • General Household Survey
  • International Passenger Survey
  • National Food Survey

EEC Surveys

  • Consumer Buying Intentions Survey

Ad Hoc Surveys

  • Anti-Smoking Measures
  • Attitudes to Armed Forces
  • Attitudes to Private Letting
  • Care of the Mentally Handicapped
  • 1976 Census Pretest
  • Drinking in Scotland
  • Employment Prospects for Young People
  • Family Formation
  • Infant Feeding
  • Minority Groups Methodological Study
  • National Travel
  • Post-Graduate Income and Expenditure
  • Reasons for Retirement
  • Surgical Footwear
  • Industrial Democracy
  • Needs of the Elderly
  • Private Rented Accommodation
  • Clackmannan Survey of the Elderly
  • Attitudes to Research
  • Heathrow Passenger Transfer

Pilot and Feasibility Work

  • Family Budgets Survey
  • 1977 Labour Force Survey
  • 1 % Annual Survey of Households
  • Financial Circumstances of the Elderly
  • Access to Primary Health Care
  • Attitudes towards Protective Legislation
  • Electoral Registration
  • Family Finances

EEC Pilot

  • Health and Housing

Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the surveys currently in progress which are being undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

Mr. Moyle

Surveys on which operational expenditure has so far been committed for the financial year 1977–78 are as follows:

Continuous Surveys

  • Housing Information Survey.
  • Family Expenditure Survey.
  • General Household Survey.
  • International Passenger Survey.
  • National Food Survey.

EEC Surveys

  • Consumer Buying Intentions.
  • Health and Housing.
  • 1977 Labour Force Survey.

Ad Hoc Surveys

  • Attitudes to Armed Forces.
  • Access to Primary Health Care.
  • Attitudes to Employment and Finance.
  • Drinking in Scotland.
  • Attitudes to Protective Legislation.
  • Patient's Attitudes to the Hospital Service.
  • Employment Prospects for Young People.
  • Electoral Registration System.
  • Reasons for Retirement.
  • Surgical Footwear.
  • Attitudes to Private Letting.
  • Family Finances.
  • 1977 Census Pretest.

Pilot and Feasibility Work

  • Family Savings and Assets.
  • Community Care for Psychiatric Patients.
  • 1 per cent. Annual Survey of Households.

Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of undertaking a survey by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

Mr. Moyle

It would be misleading to give an average cost of a survey without qualification, because of the wide variation in design, content and method. Costs range from about £750 for smallad hoc survey to nearly £½ milion per annum for the largest of the continuous surveys. In addition to the five continuous surveys some 15 new ones are started by the Office each year of which three or four are contracted out. The estimated total cost of the Social Survey Division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for 1977–78 is £3,300,000 at November 1976 prices. The Office also carries out the Labour Force Survey on behalf of EEC as well as the Census of Population.

Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total salary bill for 1977 of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

Mr. Moyle

The estimated total cost of salaries, wages and fees for the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the financial year 1977–78 is £10,388,000—headquarters staff, £9,458,000; field staff, £930,000.

Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services who is responsible for deciding what surveys shall be undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

Mr. Moyle

The Department requesting the surveys jointly with the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, consulting Ministers as appropriate.