HC Deb 27 July 1976 vol 916 cc125-6W
Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Prime Minister (1) what were the total number of statistical forms sent out by each Government Department in each of the last two years; and if he will give details of where these forms were directed;

(2) what were the total number of statistical forms sent by Government Departments to businesses in each year from 1964;

(3) what evidence he has to show that since its inception the survey control unit within the Central Statistical Office has rationalised the number of statistical forms sent to businesses.

The Prime Minister

In the period July 1975 to June 1976, 780,000 forms were sent to businesses by the Department of Industry and an estimated 3 million by all other Departments. For the period June 1974 to June 1975, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) on 22nd January 1976. In both 1974–75 and 1975–76 the number of forms sent to local authorities was approximately 250,000 and to individuals and households 2¾ million. Figures for earlier years are not available. A full sub-division by Department would involve disproportionate cost.

The Survey Control Unit's main concern is to maintain a critical watch on all official demands for satistical information so as to eliminate any duplication and minimise demands made on respondents. In the last calendar year, for example, the unit assessed 128 new surveys addressed to businesses; of those about 80 per cent. were directed to fewer than 1,000 respondents and 30 per cent to fewer than 100. In more than half of them, modifications were made in consultation with Departments. Major changes aimed at simplifications were made to 22 surveys.

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