§ Mr. CranTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received concerning the quality of statistics compiled by his Department on trends in the manufacturing industry; and what plans he has to improve the comprehensiveness and accuracy of those statistics.
§ Mr. AtkinsTo complement the recently announced central review of Government economic statistics, we have established a review of the DTI's business surveys. Both reviews include an examination of the statistics for manufacturing industry, and will make recommendations for changes where this is thought necessary. The departmental review will look in particular at the balance between the burdens that DTI surveys impose on industry and the quality and value of the resulting statistics. This follows comments which my Department receives from time to time on both aspects of the problem.