§ 27. Mr. Sainsburyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he is making with the review of statistical services and other administrative burdens on industry.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe review of the statistical services is well advanced. The main load on industry arises from the earnings and employment surveys. Both these areas are of great interest to Government and also to industry and there 109W is a clear need for the main structure of data. The information sought is for the most part very simple and samples are used to minimise the load, especially on small firms. I have already made some economies, notably in the cancellation of the 1979 census of employment, which saved 600,000 forms, but I hope to make further reductions. There has been a review of the need for each administrative form and some changes are being made.