HC Deb 28 March 1968 vol 761 cc328-9W
72. Sir T. Beamish

asked the Minister of Transport what is the cost of the survey of goods vehicles currently being undertaken; how many civil servants are engaged; how many questionnaires have been sent out; why they are marked confidential; on what information parts of the Transport Bill were based, in the absence of the information sought in this survey; and what relevance the survey will have to the pattern of transport services proposed in the Bill.

Mr. Swingler

The cost to the end or February was approximately £42,000, including accommodation and other overhead costs. The number of civil servants engaged varies from time to time but at present there is the equivalent of 40 full-time persons.

Up to the end of February about 64,000 forms had been dispatched. The forms are marked "confidential" because the information which operators render on the forms is treated as being given in confidence and is used for statistical purposes only.

The Transport Bill is based on a wide range of information available to the Department. The main aim of the present survey is to bring up to date statistical data about road goods vehicles and the work which they are doing: the informtion will be of continuing value and most of it will be in relation to transport activities unlikely to be much affected by the provisions of the Bill.

73. Sir T. Beamish

asked the Minister of Transport why the Ministry of Transport Sample Survey of Goods Vehicles was sent to Albert Turner and Son Limited at the wrong address referring to a vehicle that they do not own; and if, in view of the inefficient way in which it has been conducted, she will cancel this survey.

Mr. Swingler

We are sorry that this error has occurred in the course of issuing the large number of forms required for the road goods survey. The survey has been planned so that useful results will be obtained even though some forms go astray, and we do not intend to cancel it.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the result, in terms of forms returned to her Department fully completed, under the random checks being carried out through the Road Goods Transport Survey, 1967–68.

Mr. Swingler

The number of forms returned fully completed up to 27th March was 36,006.

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