§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the estimated increase in industrial costs in 1975 which will result from increases in petrol prices since the November budget.
§ Mr. MeacherThere are no comprehensive statistics on the use of petrol by industry. It is thought that the rise in petrol prices since the November budget would have added broadly ½ per cent. to average industrial costs and that of this about one-half would represent the effect of higher VAT charges.
390WThese and other figures on the employment size of United Kingdom manufacturing units will be published by the BSO shortly in the Business Monitor series.
Information on the ownership of these units is not readily available.