§ Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement in explanation of the drop in the industrial production index for April to 139 from 151 for April, 1951, and from 149 for March, 1952; and what effect he estimates this loss of production will have on our standard of living.
§ Sir A. SalterThe main reason for the fall in the index of industrial production in April, 1952, compared with either March, 1952, or with April, 1951, is that in 1952 Easter fell in April while in 1951 Easter fell in March. The evidence sug-106W gests that total industrial production so far this year has been on about the same level as in the corresponding period of last year.