HC Deb 24 February 1948 vol 447 cc1763-4
49. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake to set up machinery to publish the figures of industrial profits as recommended by both the Balfour and Macmillan reports.

Sir S. Cripps

Arrangements have already been made, as part of the postwar improvement in the Inland Revenue statistics, for the collection and publication of profit statistics for the main industrial groups. The earliest year for which figures can be obtained is the year 1947, the profits of which come into assessment for the year 1948–49, and the statistics will be published in the Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for that year.

Mr. Davies

While I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that the statistics to which he referred are not at all the type of statistics requested by the Macmillan Report, the Balfour Report or the Cohen Committee? Secondly, is he aware that if the Labour Government put these facts on the table, the wage negotiations and the position as far as the workers are concerned, would be clear and that negotiations between both sides of industry would be much easier? Therefore, I beg my right hon. and learned Friend to do this.