§ 66. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he accounts for the fall in industrial production in Britain in 1952 as compared with 1951; and what steps he proposes to take to enable Britain to raise her levels of production and exports.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThis whole question was fully discussed in this House during the debate on the Gracious Speech, and I have little to add at present to the statements which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I made on that occasion. I am glad to see, however, that the provisional estimate for industrial production in October confirms previous indications that some recovery in production is now taking place, no doubt helped by a moderate revival of world demand for textiles and by the recent improvement in steel supplies.