HC Deb 11 July 1969 vol 786 cc338-9W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the statistical surveys completed, or still being conducted, by the Business Statistics Office during the last five years, or such shorter period as may be convenient.

Mr. Dell

Following are the surveys which the Business Statistics Office (before 1st January, 1969, the Census Office) has completed since 1965 or is at present engaged on:

Production Statistics

  • Census of Production for 1963.
  • Inquiry into Business Expenses and Receipts—supplementary to Census of Production for 1963.
  • Inquiry into expenditure on scientific research and development—annually since 1967.
  • Census of Production for 1968.
  • Inquiry into Construction Industry—annually 1964–67, included in Census of Production for 1968.
  • Inquiry into Textile Converting for 1968.
  • Monthly inquiries into production—44 inquiries; 2 others have been discontinued.
  • Quarterly inquiries into production—39 inquiries; 3 others have been discontinued.
  • Inquiry into Printing and Publishing—quarterly since fourth quarter of 1968.

Distribution and service trade statistics

Sample Census of Distribution for 1966.

Post-Census of Distribution inquiries into floor space, self-service, and transport costs for 1966.

Inquiries annually since 1964 into stocks and capital expenditure of:

  • Catering trades.
  • Wholesale trades.
  • Registered clubs.
  • Entertainment and sport businesses.
  • Taxi and private car hire businesses.
  • Bus and coach service industry.
  • Road haulage contracting industry.
  • Property owning businesses (except 1966).
  • Retail trades (except 1966).
  • Motor trades (except 1968).
  • Merchant converting (1964 only).
  • Finance houses (1965 only).
  • Check trading businesses (1965 only).

Miscellaneous inquiries

  • Inquiry into cost and usefulness to industry of government statistics 1966.
  • Inquiry to cinematograph exhibitors and film distributors; 1967 and 1968.
  • Inquiry into capital expenditure in relation to Local Employment Acts; quarterly since 1967.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names of those Departments, and other agencies of his Department, which have carried out statistical surveys into industry and employment over the last five years.

Mr. Dell

The great majority of statistical surveys carried out by the Board of Trade are conducted by Statistics Division, including the Business Statistics Office. A few surveys, for the most part occasional and some on a very small scale, have also been conducted during the past five years by the following divisions: Accountants; Civil Aviation; Distribution of Industry; Economic Services; Industries; Insurance and Companies; and Tariffs.

There is no commonly accepted definition of what constitutes an agency of the Board of Trade, so I will write to the hon. Member about this part of the Question.