§ Mr. David Howellasked the Minister of Technology if he will give the accumulated profit or loss of the gas industry since nationalisation, adjusted after depreciation calculated at replacement cost.
§ Mr. Harold Lever:The figures requested cannot be sensibly calculated in view of changes in the nature of the industry's assets. Up to 31st March, 1969 the gas industry earned surpluses totalling £78 million after charging interest and depreciation on a historic cost basis.