§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of questionnaires requiring an answer which were sent out by his Department and by agencies responsible to his Department to employers and self-employed persons during the most recent six-month period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. John SilkinForty-one in the first six months of 1976.
§ Mr. David Huntasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many surveys, questionnaires, censuses or similar investigations have been carried out, either wholly or partly, at public expense, on behalf of or by his Department or by any public bodies for which he is responsible in 1974, 1975 and in 1976 to date, respectively, specifying their nature and the purpose and the total cost to public funds.
§ Mr. John SilkinMy Department and associated bodies undertake on a regular or continuing basis a wide range of statistical surveys. There were 163 such surveys in 1974; 155 in 1975; and 163 are being carried out in the current year. In addition there were respectively 65, 62 and 84 "once only" surveys. These surveys are mainly to obtain information about the industries for which I am responsible that is needed as a basis for making decisions whether by Ministers or by the industries themselves. The cost of most of the surveys is not separately calculated and could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.