§ Q7. Mr. Molloyasked the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to the question of ministerial responsibility for the Central Statistical Office; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI have continuously re-examined this question since the Government's statement of April, 1967, on the Ninth Report from the Estimates Committee. As the House knows, there have been considerable advances in the coverage of the work of the Central Statistical Office, but I am more than ever convinced that it is right that it should continue to be centrally located in the Cabinet Office, reporting to the Prime Minister.