§ Mr. FishburnTo ask the Prime Minister if she will list the budget for and the number of people employed by the Central Statistical Office over the past five years.
§ The Prime MinisterThe net expenditure of the Central Statistical Office for each of the financial years 1984–85 to 1988–89 and the number of staff employed at 1 April in each year are given in the table:
Financial year
Number of staff
Net expenditure
£ million
1984–85 191 3.8 1985–86 187 3.3 1986–87 1200 3.5 1987–88 173 3.0 1988–89 160 3.2 1 Twenty-five computer staff were transferred to Treasury between 1 April 1986 and 1 April 1987.
§ Mr. FishburnTo ask the Prime Minister what funds have been spent by the Central Statistical Office buying in statistical services or market research from the private sector.
§ The Prime MinisterIn the past, CSO has spent very little on buying in statistical or market research services. In 1988ߝ89 it expects to spend around £1,000. However, in 1989–90, a programme of external studies and research into problem areas of the national accounts undertaken by individuals and organisations in the private sector amounting to over £100,000 has been planned.
§ Mr. FishburnTo ask the Prime Minister what income was generated last year by the Central Statistical Office from the commercial sale of its services to the private sector.
§ The Prime MinisterInformation is not available in the precise form requested. In 1987–88 total income to the CSO from the sale of publications was £314,000. In the same year sales to the private sector from the CSO commercial databank service generated £34,000.