§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many forms his Department issues to the public; and how this compares with the position six months and 12 months ago.
§ Mr. CarmichaelThe number of statistical forms issued by my Department to firms engaged in industrial production
*This figure is provisional.
294Wand in the distributive and service trades was 900,000 in 1975 and 730,000 in 1974. The figure was substantially higher in 1975 mainly because it included a one-off survey of standby electricity generating plant; various periodic "bench mark" inquiries—e.g. into wholesaling, capital expenditure by property developers, purchases by industry, expenditure on research and development and overseas assets—the first of a new series of annual censuses of the construction industry; and surveys taken over from other Departments.