§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are currently employed at the companies registration office; and, of these, how many are occupied in (a) microfilming operations, (b) document examination and (c) enforcement of default.
§ Mr. HowardA total of 1,135 staff are currently employed at the companies registration offices, of whom 301½ are predominantly occupied in microfilming operations, 337 in document examination and 124 in the enforcement of default.
§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated cost of running the companies registration office during 1987–88, and what is the estimated revenue for services provided during the same period.
§ Mr. HowardThe figures are:
£ million Estimated cost1 20.1 Estimated revenue 28.9 1 On a memorandum trading account basis.
§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the guidelines on tradeable information issued in August 1986 are being complied with by the companies registration office; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardYes, I am satisfied that the guidelines are being complied with. The companies registration office is providing basic information more efficiently and making it more accessible to the public. Wider use and awareness of company information should benefit the private sector in its role of adding value and manipulating the data in electronic form, to produce an enhanced product for which users will pay more. This is the activity which the Government's guidelines on tradeable information seek to encourage.