§ Mr. Gouldasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in respect of the statistics kept and published by his Department, he will publish in the Official Report 668W any changes since 1979 in (a) the statistical series which are published, including those which have been introduced and those which have been dropped, (b) the basis on which any elements in the statistics are estimated, calculated or presented, (c) the periods over which, and the dates on which the series are collected or published and (d) any other respects in the ways in which the statistics are collected, recorded, presented, evaluated or published; and if he will explain the reasons for any such changes.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonChanges in the basis of compilation, presentation and publication of statistical series are made from time to time in response to the Government's requirements for statistical information, changes in the administrative systems on which the series are based, the development of new statistical techniques and technological developments affecting the compilation and dissemination of statistical material.
My Department, for example, introduced in February 1984 two new series measuring farming income. Details were published in the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1984" (Cmnd. 9137). Many other changes, mainly minor ones, have been introduced and documented over the years, but to bring all this information together in one source would involve disproportionate cost.