HC Deb 25 November 1968 vol 774 c10W
64. Mr. Prior

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many questionnaire forms E.S.2 have been sent out by her Department; under what authority they have been sent out; and how many people are engaged in collating the returns.

Mr. Harold Walker

About 100,000 forms are being issued. Statutory authority for the inquiry is provided by the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947. The returns are to be processed by computer. About 20 staff at H.Q. are directly engaged for several months on work arising from the survey; in addition, staff with more general duties in local offices are involved for part of their time.