§ Mr. Redmondasked the Prime Minister what action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the Bolton Committee for the strengthening of arrangements for the scrutiny of statistical surveys.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Bolton Committee made a number of recommendations on statistical forms and procedures aimed at reducing the burden on firms of official form-filling. The Government substantially accept these recommendations and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will be making an announcement shortly.
Two of the recommendations—Report of the Committee of Inquiry on Small Firms, paragraph 15.34, numbers 2 and 3—ask for a strengthening of existing arrangements for the scrutiny of statistical surveys. Although these arrangements, based on the Survey Control Unit at the Central Statistical Office, have operated with some success and were in fact favourably commented on by the Bolton Committee, the Government accept that they could be strengthened.
I have therefore asked all Ministers to ensure that no new statistical surveys or significant alterations to existing surveys are proposed without first consulting the Central Statistical Office. I have also asked them to ensure that the central record of existing surveys remains comprehensive.
These arrangements cover all statistical surveys carried out either by, or on behalf of, all Departments and public bodies whose activities are the direct responsibility of a Department. All surveys collecting information wholly or primarily for statistical purposes, and inquiries conducted for other purposes containing questions which are solely for statistical purposes, are to be reported to the Central Statistical Office. Surveys directed to all types of respondents, other 88W than those within the central Government service, are to be reported, provided that they are directed to 10 or more respondents.
The Central Statistical Office will consider all these proposals together with existing surveys; and where necessary will propose changes to the Departments concerned.
I believe that these arrangements will enable us to exercise closer scrutiny over statistical form-filling; and that they will contribute further to the Government's efforts to cut out unnecessary and time-consuming paper work.