§ Mr. FavellTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the latest figures he has available for the profitability of manufacturing industry.
§ Mr. AtkinsIn 1987, the net real rate of return at current replacement cost for manufacturing companies was 9 per cent. This exceeds substantially the peak reached in the last economic cycle in 1978 and is the highest since 1969. Information on rates of return on capital employed for manufacturing companies in 1987, derived from the national accounts statistics, was published in "British Business" on 30 September.