§ 82. Mr. Onslowasked the Minister of Technology what proportional increase in industrial costs there has been since November, 1967; and what estimate he has formed of the increase in the coming six months.
Mr. Alan Williams:Statistics of total industrial costs are not available. The only inputs for which statistics of cost are available per labour and basic materials and fuel. Estimates of labour cost per unit of output are made on an annual basis and are not yet available for 1969. The wholesale prices of basic materials and fuel used in manufacturing industry rose by 13 per cent, between November, 1967 and March, 1970. It is not customary to publish forecasts of costs and price movements.