§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make it his practice in future to make clear in all departmental questionnaires whether or not the return is compulsory.
§ Mr. MeacherThe distinction between voluntary and compulsory statistical questionnaires is already made reasonably clear to recipients. All questionnaires from this Department which respondents are legally obliged to complete include the sentence
You are required under Section…of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947, to complete this form.Other questionnaires simply ask firms to complete and return the form. I am 18W considering whether any further clarification is desirable.