asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many surveys, questionnaires, censuses or similar investigations have been carried out, either wholly or partly, at public expense, on behalf of or by his Department or by any public bodies for which he is responsible in 1974, 1975 and in 1976 to date, respectively, specifying their nature and purpose and the total cost to public funds.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Almost all such work relates to the operational needs of the police, prison, fire, probation and immigration services. Particular surveys carried out in 1974, 1975 and 1976 have included 10 in connection with community relations, 20 in connection with community programmes and 10 others. Among the latter were a large survey carried out for the James Committee on the business of magistrates' courts and the Crown Court, and work relating to fire losses and drowning accidents; some of them are still in progress. The total cost of the survey for the James Committee was £11,500. Most of the other surveys individually cost less than £5,000.