HC Deb 31 May 1949 vol 465 c1909
50. Mr. Keeling

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the average profit margins of the 10 largest exporting industries.

Sir S. Cripps

The information asked for is unfortunately not available.

Mr. Keeling

If the Chancellor cannot give figures will he consider issuing an explanation of his allegation of "frightfully high and enormous profits"—an allegation which the best-known weekly economic paper described as "Not the words of an economist but those of a rabble-rouser"?

Sir S. Cripps

I am afraid I am not concerned with what either the Press or the Leader of the Opposition says. The information is not available and I could not give any explanation because the facts are not available.