§ Mr. Jim Spicerasked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total cost from public funds of the inquiries into retail trading for 1976 and 1977 by the Business Statistics Office; and what is 702W the estimated cost of the further inquiry that is to be held in 1978.
§ Mr. MeacherThe estimated cost of the annual inquiry into retail trading for 1976, being conducted in 1977, was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Carshalton (Mr. Forman) on 11th February. [Vol. 925, c. 889] On the same basis, the cost of the 1977 annual retail inquiry, to be conducted in 1978, being the second of the series of annual inquiries and asking for more limited information, is expected to be about £340,000 at current costings.