§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he remains satisfied with the information shown in the employment statistics as presently compiled.
§ Mr. GoldingYes, although I am always ready to receive suggestions as to their improvement. My Department compiles a comprehensive range of employment statistics whilst having regard to the resources available and the need to keep within bounds the number of statistical returns sent to employers. The censuses of employment provide full information annually, including detailed analyses by area and industry. Smaller-scale quarterly surveys provide indicators 317W of trends for the whole economy and for broad industry groups and regions, and monthly returns are obtained for manufacturing and other production industries.