asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated proportion of the total working population of the country employed otherwise than in Government or local government offices in the execution, compilation and fulfilment of returns and records to meet Government requirements, including Pay As You Earn.

I have no information on which to base an estimate.

Does the right hon. Gentleman ask the House to believe that his production estimates have been arrived at without taking into account the nonproductive element in the manpower force in industry?

I am not asked for an opinion on the matter, but the fact is that to get this information I should have to communicate with every firm in the country, to ask them what part of their staffs were engaged on this work.