§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to improve the quality of economic statistical data published by his Department.
§ Mr. MajorThe Treasury, Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue are currently involved, with the Central Statistical Office and other departments, in implementing specific recommendations on improving the quality of Government economic statistics included in the recent scrutiny report. The report, copies of which are available in the Library, also made recommendations about the inter-departmental arrangements for the production of Government economic statistics. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 5 April at columns 190–91,560W the establishment of a separate Government Department, responsible to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, bringing together the work of the Central Statistical Office, the Business Statistics Office and some parts of the statistical work of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Employment. These changes are designed to achieve a significant improvement in the quality and relevance of Government economic statistics.