asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to commission research externally into the effect of incomes policy on firms.

I have recently commissioned an independent research organisation, Industrial Facts and Forecasting (IFF) Limited, to carry out the pilot stage of a small scale survey into qualitative effects of pay policy at company and plant level. If the pilot stage is completed satisfactorily it is my intention to commission IFF to undertake a full survey which will consist of about 600 interviews with management and trade union representatives.