§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement detailing any reduction or abolition in the collection or publication of statistics or reports by his Department since May 90W 1979, indicating if such information is available from any other source; and what financial savings have been made by any such changes.
§ Mr. David Howell:A survey of stocks and consumption of fuels held by industrial consumers has been reduced in frequency and combined with a survey of fuel purchases with effect from October 1979. A survey of the off-shore work force, which was conducted annually until 1979 has been discontinued and the required information will be obtained from another department.
These changes have led to an estimated annual reduction of 16,600 in the number of forms sent to industry and of up to about £30,000 in Government expenditure.