HC Deb 14 June 1976 vol 913 cc62-3W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is her latest estimate of the percentage increase in profits necessary for manufacturing industry, in order to make possible an increase of 500,000 in the number of people employed by manufacturing industry.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Growth of manufacturing industry, leading to a higher level of employment, and in particular to a higher level of investment, will require some increase in the level of profits, but it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the relationship between profits and employment.