§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it was decided to undertake a survey by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys into drinking in Scotland; on whose recommendation it was decided that the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys should conduct this survey; what is the estimated cost to public funds of the survey; and which Department is likely to use the results.
§ Mr. MoyleThe survey was requested by the Scottish Home and Health Department in order to monitor the effects of changes in drinking hours in Scotland. The estimated cost of the survey is £70,800.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he 552W will list the questions being asked in the survey being carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys into attitudes to protective legislation.
§ Mr. MoyleThe questionnaire to be used in the survey of protective legislation is not yet ready. When the survey is complete a copy of the questionnaire will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the questions asked by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys during the survey on drinking in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of staff employed by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in each of the years 1966 to 1976; and how many staff are currently so employed.
§ Mr. MoyleThe number of staff employed by OPCS on 1st April of each year was:
Year Total Staff 1966 1,436 1967 1,747 1968 1,708 1969 1,699 1970 1,964 1971 2,077 1972 2,488 1973 2,583 1974 2,742 1975 2,870 1976 2,645 1977 2,605 The number of staff currently employed is 2,585.
OPCS was created on 11th May 1970 by the merger of the General Register Office for England and Wales and the Government Social Survey Department; the figures given for dates before then are totals of the staff of the two separate departments.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the salary grades for employees of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.
§ Mr. MoyleThe staff of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys are members of standard civil service classes and are paid accordingly.
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§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the survey carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys into drinking in Scotland has yet been completed.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services who was responsible for deciding that the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys should conduct a survey into attitudes to protective legislation; why the decision was taken; what is the total number of people being interviewed by the Office during the survey; what is the cost to public funds of the survey; how many staff employed by the Office have been required to conduct this survey; and which Department is likely to use the results.
§ Mr. MoyleThe Equal Opportunities Commission requested the survey. The Commission has a statutory duty to review (in consultation with the Health and Safety Commission) the discriminatory provisions of the Health and Safety legislation. About 2,500 persons will be interviewed. The cost of the survey will be £75,000. About 10 full-time staff of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys will be employed in the survey for some months. In addition a number of part-time interviewers will be employed. The Equal Opportunities Commission will incorporate these findings, as appropriate, in the report on its review to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff employed by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys have been required to conduct the survey on drinking in Scotland; and what is the approximate length of time required by the Office to conduct it.
§ Mr. MoyleAbout eight full-time staff of OPCS and 60 part-time interviewers have been employed on this survey, in most cases for short periods. Work began in June 1976 and is likely to be completed at the end of 1977.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total sample of people being inter- 554W viewed in connection with the survey being undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on drinking in Scotland; on what basis the Office selected the people it questioned during the course of the survey; and how many people refused to take part in it.
§ Mr. MoyleThe survey was carried out in two stages. 1,675 people were interviewed in the first stage and a further 107 refused to take part. In the second stage, 1,443 people who had been interviewed in the first stage were re-interviewed and 155 declined. The sample of people approached in the survey was selected at random from electoral registers.