§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total cost of the Business Statistics Office per annum; how many people are employed by the office; and if he will list all the 736W surveys being undertaken currently by the office.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe total cost of the Business Statistics Office in the financial year 1976–77 was £6.8 million. The average number of persons employed in that year was 1,066. A list of surveys currently being carried out by the Business Statistics Office is as follows:
Survey and Frequency
- Census of Production (manufacturing)—Annually.
- Manufacturers' sales—Quarterly.
- Manufacturers' purchases—Every 3–4 years.
- Engineering sales and orders—Monthly.
- Miscellaneous inquiries into production, stocks and/or orders—Monthly.
- Census of Production (construction)—Annually.
- Building materials production—Quarterly and monthly.
- Minerals raised—Annually.
- Electricity generated by large users—Quarterly.
- Purchases of fuel by large users—Quarterly.
- Fuel stocks and consumption of large users —Quarterly in summer; Monthly in winter.
- Expenditure on research and development—Every 2–3 years.
- Retailing inquiry (turnover, purchases, etc.) —Annually.
- Retail sales—Monthly.
- Inquiries into capital expenditure and stocks in the distributive and service trades:
- Wholesaling and dealing—Annually.
- Motor trades—Annually.
- Property companies—Annually.
- Catering—Annually.
- Entertainment—Annually.
- Road transport—Annually.
- Transport services and storage—Annually.
- Business services—Annually.
- Miscellaneous services—Annually.
- Film exhibitors (admissions, takings, capacity) —Annually.
- Motor trades turnover and purchases—Quarterly.
- Wholesalers' stocks—Quarterly.
- Catering and allied trades sales—Quarterly.
- Consumer credit grantors inquiry—Special inquiry.