§ 32. Mr. Formanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what improvement there has been over the last year in the financial position of United Kingdom companies.
§ Mr. HayhoeGross trading profits of industrial and commercial companies in the first half of 1983 were some 25 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period in 1982, and according to the latest DTI survey, company liquidity is at its best level since mid-1979. The CBI's latest survey of manufacturing firms' liquidity position shows that the improvement in their financial position has been the most widespread since the CBI first included questions in its surveys of industrial trends.