§ Mr. David Huntasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many questionnaires, statistical inquiries or investigations have been carried out, either wholly or partly at public expense, on behalf of or by his Department or by any public bodies for which he is responsible in 1976, 1977 and in 1978 to date, specifying their nature and purpose and their estimated total cost.
§ Dr. MabonThe number of questionnaires, statistical inquiries or investigations undertaken by my Department in recent years, partly or wholly at public expense, is as follows:
It is not possible to quantify the full costs of all these exercises without disproportionate effort.
1976 22 1977 30 1978 19 Ten of these surveys were in connection with the energy "Save it" campaign. Of the remainder, 18—in each of the three years—are ongoing statistical inquiries in the energy sector. In addition, there were surveys on:—energy labelling; details of the composition of senior middle management in the major offshore operating companies; the persons working on or from offshore installations—an annual inquiry; and the research and development carried out in the United Kingdom on the development of alternative energy sources and on energy conservation. Finally, the King inquiry investigated serious gas explosions.