§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many staff are employed at the Business Statistics Office, Cardiff; how many were employed there in March 1979; what is the purpose of this office; and what is its annual cost to the taxpayer.
§ Mr. MacGregor940 staff were employed at the Business Statistics Office on 1 January 1981 compared with 1,035 on 1 April 1979. The cost of the office in the financial year 1979–80 was £8.9 million. The office is the main agency for collecting, processing and publishing the statistics on trade and industry required for purposes of Government policy.