HC Deb 21 December 1976 vol 923 cc149-52W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the number of men's and women's overcoats imported from Romania in 1975; what are the quotas for the current year and for 1977; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is the quota for suits imported from Romania for 1977; what this figure represents as a percentage of the total number of suits imported in 1976; and if he will make a statement;

(3) how many jackets were imported from Romania in 1975; what is the quota for the current year; what this figure is as a percentage of the 1975 imports; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what is the total quota allocation for suits from Romania in the current year;

(5) what is the number of suits imported from Romania in the first eight months of 1976.

Mr. Dell

The quotas set for the United Kingdom for suits, jackets and overcoats in the recent Community Agreement with Romania are as follows in thousands of pieces:

quiring an answer which was sent out by his Department last year; and how many of each sort were sent out.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The information is given in the following table. It relates to the questionnaires issued by the common statistical service of the Departments of Trade, Industry and Prices and Consumer Protection.

A variety of different forms are used in the statistical inquiries, partly because a simpler form is often sent to the smaller businesses and partly because the detailed headings on the forms vary according to the industry or trade to which the business belongs.

STATISTICAL FORMS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND PRICES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION IN 1976
Forms sent to firms in the distributive and service industries
Subject of statistical inquiry Frequency Number of forms per inquiry Total number issued
Inquiries into capital expenditure and stocks:
Wholesaling and dealing Annual 11,500 11,500
Motor trades Annual 6,000 6,000
Retail distribution Annual 19,300 19,300
Property owning Annual 8,900 8,900
Catering Annual 17,500 17,500
Transport and entertainment Annual 9,000 9,000
Film exhibitors Annual 1,600 1,600
Insurance companies' and private pension funds' assets and financial transactions Annual and quarterly 380 1,900
Retail sales, stocks, HP, TV rental and relay Monthly 5,470 65,600
Finance houses and check trading Monthly and quarterly 350 3,500
Catering turnover Monthly 2,420 29,000
Motor trades turnover and purchases Quarterly 1,450 5,800
Capital expenditure Quarterly 1,700 6,800
Investment intentions 4 monthly 970 2,900
Wholesalers' stocks Quarterly 725 2,900
United Kingdom coastal trade inquiry* Monthly 70 400
United Kingdom sea passenger movements inquiry On arrival/departure 67,500
Computer services inquiry Quarterly 150 600
Food price survey Weekly 50 2,500
Register proving forms† One-off 72,000
Total 335,200
Forms sent to firms in the production industries
Subject of statistical inquiry Frequency Number of forms per inquiry Total number issued
Industries' sales Quarterly 29,000 116,000
Census of production (manufacturing) Annual 35,000 35,000
Census of production (construction) Annual 13,000 13,000
Mines and quarries Annual 4,100 4,100
Building materials production Quarterly 725 2,900
Monthly 650 7,800
Engineering sales and orders Monthly 2,200 26,400
Electricity generated by large users Quarterly 225 900
Miscellaneous inquiries into production stocks and/or orders Monthly and quarterly 68,200
Purchases of fuel by large users Quarterly 800 3,200
Fuel stocks/consumption of large users Monthly in winter quarterly in summer 900 7,200
Expenditure on research and development—2nd stage Every2–3years 2,400 2,400
Manufacturers' capital expenditure Quarterly 2,200 8,800
Regional extension* Quarterly 1,200 4,800
Manufacturers' investment intentions 4 monthly 1,800 5,400
Manufacturers' stocks Quarterly 850 3,400
Monthly 1,000 12,000
Export prospects survey Quarterly 75 300
Wholesale prices‡ Quarterly 600 2,400
Monthly 11,000 132,600
Overseas transactions§ Annual 4,400 4,400
Quarterly 750 3,000
Company liquidity§ Quarterly 215 1,200
Register proving forms One-off 22,700
Share register survey—nominee analysis| One-off 4,500 4,500
Total 492,600
* Now terminated.
† Includes a large special inquiry to improve the quality of the retail register prior to the first annual retail inquiry in 1976.
‡ A shuttle form is used.
§ Also covers firms in the distributive and service industries.
| One-off inquiry addressed to shareholders.

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