§ Mr. Porterasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official forms are issued by his Department; and how this compares with 1979.
§ Mr. YoungerThe total number of forms issued to the public and businesses is not recorded.
The Scottish Office currently has 2,860 different types of forms which are for use by the public or businesses; corresponding figures for 1979 are not available. Since the publication of "Administrative Forms in Government" Cmnd. 8504 in February 1982, 388 forms have been reviewed and 47 abolished, 133 having been reviewed and eight abolished in the first year. The review of forms used by Government is continuing.