§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the cutbacks that have been made in his Department's collection of statistics since May 1979: and whether further cuts are now being proposed.
§ Mr. HeseltineI have instituted vigorous reviews of the need for statistical work in my Department and the burden it places on those outside in providing statistical information. As a result, some surveys have been eliminated, others substantially simplified and analytical work has been reduced. My Department was also, of course, included in Sir Derek Rayner's review of the Government statistical services, the review officer's report on which recognised these cuts and proposed further changes. These are set out in the review officer's report, which, together with my action statement on it, was recently issued and a copy placed in the Library.