§ 50. Mr. Biffenasked the President of the Board of Trade what evidence he has of company profit margins during 1967 compared with the preceding year; and what estimate he has made of future likely trends in profit margins over the coming 18 months.
§ Mr. Darling:Figures are not yet available for 1967, but indirect evidence suggests a small increase compared with 1966. Some further increase is likely in the next eighteen months, resulting from higher production and the increased profitability of exports.