§ Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many major inquiries were made by business under the market information inquiries scheme for each month from September 1988 to date;
(2) how many substantive inquiries were made under the market information inquiries scheme for each month from September 1988 to date.
§ Mr. Redwood[holding answer 21 March 1990]: Following is the information.
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Market information enquiry service (MIE) June 1989— February 1990 Month Number of enquiries billed June 37 July 72 August 87
Month Number of enquiries billed September 103 October 108 November 135 December 104 January 97 February 182 Total 925 The market information enquiry service (MIEs) was introduced as a chargeable service on 1 April 1989. The information available is set out above. A breakdown of MIEs which are "major" and those which are "substantive" could be made available only at disproportionate cost. Figures were not collected prior to the introduction of charges.