§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the reason for the fall in 1977 of production to the levels of the 1974 three-day working week; what action he proposes to take to change this situation and improve production; and whether this will include reducing the number of unemployed.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThere is no one single cause of the disappointing performance of industrial production during 1977, but one important element was certainly 787W the depressed level of demand in the industrialised world generally. On the other aspects of the question, I must ask my hon. Friend to await my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.