HC Deb 08 November 1983 vol 48 cc112-5W
Mr. Galley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available his Department asked companies to complete forms and questionnaires for the provision of information to his Department; and what was the purpose of each individual request.

Mr. Butcher

Following is the information in respect of statistical surveys conducted by my Department in 1982:

Surveys Addressed to the Production & Construction Industries
Subject of Survey Frequency Purpose
Manufacturers' Sales Quarterly To provide indicators of output trends. Used for compiling index of industrial production.
Census of Production (Manufacturing) Annual To provide information about the structure and development of industries. Needed for the national accounts and to meet statutory EC obligations.
Census of Production (Construction) Annual To provide information about the structure and development of the construction industry. Needed for the national accounts and to meet statutory EC obligations.
Minerals Raised Annual To provide basic information on minerals mined and quarried in Great Britain. Needed to help in planning and policy.
Extraction of Petroleum and Natural Gas Quarterly To provide basic data about the output of petroleum and natural gas. Needed for the national accounts and for monitoring the industry.
Building Materials (Production) Monthly and Quarterly To provide data about the production of building materials. Used for compiling the index of industrial production.
Engineering Sales and/ or Orders Monthly To compile indices of production and orders for the engineering industries.
Electricity Generated by Large Users Quarterly To provide data needed for the formulation of energy policy and for monitoring price trends and stock levels.
Fuel Purchases and Stocks
Expenditure on Research and Development Biennial To provide data on research and development expenditure needed to help formulate government policy and to meet OECD and EC requirements.
Manufacturers' Investment Intentions Half Yearly To compile forecasts of investment for the National Income Forecasts produced by HM Treasury.
Manufacturers' Capital Expenditure Quarterly To compile estimates of short term trends in investment. Used for national accounts and other policy purposes.
Manufacturers' Stocks Quarterly To compile estimates of short term trends in changes of stock levels. Used for national accounts and policy purposes.
Misc. enquiries into production and/or orders Monthly and Quarterly To provide indicators of trends in output and orders. Used for compiling the index of industrial production.
Wholesale Prices Monthly To produce the index of wholesale prices (now renamed producer price index).

Subject of Survey Frequency Purpose
Overseas Transactions* Annual and Quarterly To provide figures of certain overseas transaction* between UK companies and their related concerns overseas for the balance of payments.
Company Liquidity Quarterly To provide a timely indicator of company liquidity to help in fiscal and monetary policy.
Census of Overseas Assets and Liabilities Triennial To provide the framework for the overseas transactions survey needed for the balance of payments.
Register Proving Forms Ad Hoc To maintain the quality of the statistical register of companies.
Survey of Intermediate Production Ad Hoc To assess the extent of intra-company sales in considering the company as a basis for statistical reporting.
Surveys Addressed to the Distribution and Service Industries
Retailing Annual To provide basic information needed for the national accounts.
Wholesaling Annual To provide basic information needed for the national accounts.
Motor Trade Annual To provide basic information needed for the national accounts.
Catering Annual To provide basic information needed for the national accounts.
Road Transport Biennial To provide basic information needed for the national accounts.
Property Biennial To provide basic information needed for the national accounts.
Other Services Biennial To provide basic information needed for the national accounts.
Film Exhibitors Annual To provide information about cinemas needed for departmental policy purposes.
Retail Sales, Credit and Stocks Monthly To compile monthly index of retail sales and series of stock changes for the national accounts.
Wholesalers' Stocks Quarterly To compile series of stock changes for the national accounts.
Investment Intentions Half Yearly To produce forecasts of investment for the National Income Forecasts compiled by HM Treasury.
Capital Expenditure Quarterly To compile estimates of short term trends in investment for the national accounts and other policy purposes.
Insurance Companies and Pension Funds Quarterly and Annual To compile flow of fund and balance sheet information needed for monetary policy and the financial accounts.
Consumer Credit Grantors Monthly To obtain information about credit granted for the financial accounts and for credit control.
Finance Houses: Assets and Liabilities Quarterly To obtain flow of funds and balance sheet information for the financial accounts.
United Kingdom Sea Passenger Movements** Arrival/ Departure To provide information for the Overseas Travel Account for the balance of payments.
Computer Services Quarterly To obtain information needed to monitor progress of the industry for policy purposes.

Subject of Survey Frequency Purpose
Overseas Payments and Receipts for Films, TV Materials and Programmes Annual To provide information about overseas transactions in films and television material for use in the balance of payments.
Earnings of UK Insurance Brokers on Business Written in Overseas Currencies Quarterly To provide information relating to the brokerage earned for use in the balance of payments.
* Also covers the distribution and service industries.
** Transferred to the Department of Transport in June 1983.