§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the point of sending out quarterly inquiries to those engaged in the furniture and upholstery industry; how many such inquiries were sent out during 1976–77; and how many returns were made.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe information collected in these inquiries is needed for the purpose of compiling the United Kingdom Index of Industrial Production, as well as to enable both the Government and the industry to monitor the trend of sales of different types of furniture. The inquiry is conducted in consultation with the trade associations and individual firms in the industries concerned, which value the information they receive in this way. On average, some 600 of these inquiry forms were sent out, quarterly, in the period 1976–77, with approximately 91 per cent. returned. If722W the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind, I hope he will contact me.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) why it is necessary to ascertain the number of reclining chairs with frames or shells of plastic sold each quarter in order to enable his Department to carry out its functions;
(2) why it is necessary to have an accurate quarterly differentiation of sink units sold in the United Kingdom in order to enable his Department to carry out its functions; why it is essential to record separately the sale of sink units which comprise a sink and cabinet of metal and all other sink units; and, if accuracy in the recorded sale of sink units is of importance, why complete sink units which comprise a sink and cabinet of metal are included under the heading "Other" in question 43 of the Quarterly Inquiry into Manufacturers Sales in Furniture and Upholstery;
(3) what is the purpose of recording separately all quarterly sales of filing cabinets and office bookcases;
(4) why it is not considered necessary to separate the statistics gathered on the sales of divan head-boards, bedstead ends and bunk beds.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe quarterly inquiry form for the furniture and upholstery industry requires sales of sink units made of metal to be included in heading 43, but not separately identified; and sales of all other sink units to be included in heading 73. This is necessary in order that sales of these items can be allocated to the industries of which they are major products.
The quarterly inquiry into the furniture and upholstery industry which was introduced in 1970 provides information for both Government and industry, one of the stated objectives of the inquiry being to provide a statistical service for the industry. Trade associations and individual undertakings in this industry were consulted and assisted my Department in drafting the questions in a way which will be useful to them as well as Government. The need to keep the number of questions to the minimum is continually under review.
Progress is being made in reducing the form-filling burden and I am writing to 723W the hon. Gentleman, giving him further details on this.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will comment on the accuracy of the information collected by the Business Statistics Office on quarterly sales of furniture and upholstery, bearing in mind that manufacturers are allowed to give estimates where they cannot give exact figures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe inquiry is conducted in consultation and co-operation with the trade associations and individual firms in the industry, which need the information provided. The information provided by contributors to the furniture and upholstery inquiry is considered to provide a valuable and reasonably accurate guide to the trend of sales in the industry. In order to avoid delays in response to this inquiry while final figures are extracted from the accounts, respondents are encouraged to make informed and timely estimates. Where, owing to late or non-response, the estimates for particular sales categories include a high degree of estimation this is clearly indicated in the business monitor concerned. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind, I shall be pleased to hear from him.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will abandon the practice of requiring all those engaged in furniture and upholstery manufacturing to make quarterly returns to the Business Statistics Office.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThis survey is prepared and conducted following consultations with the trade associations and individual firms in the industries concerned. Only those manufacturing establishments employing 25 or more persons are required to make returns in the quarterly inquiry into the furniture and upholstery industry. My right hon. Friend does not propose to alter this requirement and we have received no representations from these industries asking that he should do so. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind, I hope he will contact me.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many upholstered bases for mattresses, exclud 724W ing mattresses 120 cm. in width and over, were sold in Staffordshire during the second quarter of 1977; and what conclusions he draws from this information;
(2) how many cushions of sponge and foam rubber and plastic foam were sold in the United Kingdom during the first half of 1976; how these sales compared with the sales of cushions of other materials; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many loose covers, pelmets, curtains, etc. were made by manufacturers from customers' own materials during the first quarter of 1976; and if he will list some of the items he would expect those filling in their quarterly returns for the Business Statistics Office to include under the term "Etc.".
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.