§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the large number of questionnaires which are sent out by Government Departments and Government agencies to small businesses; and whether he will arrange for a copy of any such questionnaires to be deposited in the Library at the time of dispatch.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government collect a wide range of information from businesses which is necessary for administration and the development of policy. Special measures are taken to protect small firms as far as possible from the burden of form-filling. They are excluded from the coverage of many inquiries; in others a proportionally smaller sample is taken of small firms and a simplified questionnaire used. The need for statistical returns is kept under constant examination by the Survey Control Unit of the Central Statistical Office.
The depositing of copies of questionnaires in the Library is a matter for the Departments concerned.