§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Industry if the completion by small knitwear firms of Form PQ 417–1 now being distributed by the Business Statistics Office is compulsory; and what are the penalties involved if a firm is unable to comply due to the full-time occupation of office staff in sales promotion.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldYes, but establishments employing fewer than 25 persons are not asked to complete form PQ 417–1. The information is required under the provisions of Section 1 of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 and is used by the Government and the industry concerned. Section 4(1) of the Act provides that any person failing to furnish returns may be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50, or a fine not exceeding £200 for a second or subsequent offence.
Mr. Fanasked the Secretary of State for Industry why the Business Statistics 77W Office sent a 12-page form, number PQ 417–1, to Messrs. Babvale Ltd. of Leicester, on 11th January, requiring return within four days.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldMessrs. Babvale Limited of Leicester will need to complete only a few of the questions on form PQ 417–1, which relates to all the products of the hosiery and other knitted goods industry. This firm received a sympathetic communication from Business Statistics Office on 28th January, informing it that no return would be required prior to that for the first quarter of 1977, due in April. Arrangements are being made to visit the firm in question to discuss this problem.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Industry why the the Business Statistics Office does not distribute Form PQ 417–1 requesting a large amount of detailed information before the commencement of the quarter in session instead of 11 days after the end of the quarter, thereby placing small businesses in the time-consuming position of searching through old records for the needed information.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldForm PQ 417/1 is normally despatched from the Business Statistics Office during the last week of each quarter, since the information required relates to sales in that quarter which could not be available before the end of it. Despite timely despatch on 31st December 1976 delivery of some of the 4th quarter 1976 forms was unfortunately delayed, in January 1977 following the holiday period. Also, when first approached businesses are always allowed extra time to adapt their sales records to the needs of any inquiry.