HC Deb 18 July 1957 vol 573 cc132-3W
67. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage increases in inflation of the principal European countries, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, respectively, from 1945 to the last available date, on the basis of information made available to him by the statistical organs of the United Nations Organisation and the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

Mr. Birch

It is impossible to make valid international comparisons of such a general kind. Certain figures of price changes are published in United Nations and O.E.E.C. publications, but these by no means always point to the same conclusion.

68. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the percentage increase in industrial production of the principal European countries, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, respectively, from 1945 to the last available date, on the basis of information made available to him by the statistical organs of the United Nations Organisation and the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

Mr. Birch

Figures of the increase in industrial production in the principal Western European countries and the U.S.A. from 1948 to the first quarter of 1957 are given below. 1948 is the first post-war year for which complete figures are available.

Percentage increases in industrial production (excluding building) from 1948 to first quarter 1957 (seasonally adjusted)
Belgium … … 44*
Denmark … … 39
France … … 74
Western Germany … … 269
Italy … … 113*
Netherlands … … 87
Norway … … 62
Sweden … … 33
United Kingdom … … 37
U.S.A … … 35
*January and February only.