§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the explanation of the difference between Table 13 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, published in March, which forecasts a gross trading loss, including capital receipts, before depreciation, for the British Steel Corporation of £50 million in 1977–78, and Table 3.3 of the 224W Public Expenditure White Paper, Command Paper No. 6721-II, published in February, which forecasts a gross trading profit, including capital receipts, before depreciation, for the British Steel Corporation of £204 million in 1977–78; and if he will make a statement on the quarter billion pound deterioration.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe figures in Cmnd. 6721-II were, as the White Paper stressed, a tentative indication of the individual industries' financing requirements. Although published in February, these figures were based on industry estimates produced during 1976. The figures in the Financial Statement and Budget Report represent later estimates based on more up-to-date information.