77. Mr. Slaterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average profit, after meeting the labour cost per unit of output today, compared with 1957.
Mr. AmoryI cannot give figures for today, as they ate not available until some time afterwards. Between the first half of 1957 and the first half of 1959, gross trading profits of companies increased by 2 per cent.; if gross trading profits and surpluses of public corporations and enterprises are included, the increase was 4 per cent. Over the same period, income from employment increased by 8 per cent., while the gross domestic product measured at constant prices was practically unchanged.