asked the Secretary of State for Employment what surveys the EEC has asked his Department to carry out; what use the EEC has told his Department it intends to make of the results of these surveys; and what will be the estimated charge on United Kingdom funds.

Community surveys using uniform definitions and methods are carried out to provide internationally comparable statistics which are needed but not otherwise available for the member countries. Allocations from the EEC budget are made towards their cost. The following statistical sample surveys have been or are being carried out either under regulations of the Council or by agreement between member countries and the Commission.

Survey of employers' labour costs	Associated Council (EEC) regulation
Industrial sector (index of production industries):
1973	Agreement (as if 2259/1971 applied)
1975	328/1975
Services sector (distribution, banking, finance, insurance):
1974	3192/1973
Surveys of the structure and distribution of earnings of employees
Services sector:
1974–75*	178/1974
Labour force sample (household) survey
1973	Agreement (as if 2723/1972 applied)
1975	2640/1974
Surveys of retail prices
1973 (pilot)	Agreement
1975	Agreement
* This survey is being integrated in the New Earnings Survey 1975 as explained in the February 1975 issue of the Department of Employment Gazette.

The objects of the surveys are outlined in the preambles to the Council regulations and explanatory memoranda to Parliament.The estimated charge on United Kingdom public funds of the labour force sample surveys are about £250,000 for 1973 and £⅓ million for 1975. The net cost of other surveys is expected to be marginal.