§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the reduction in profit margins in manufacturing industry since the end of 1989 as a percentage of sales and the effect that that has had on(a) the rate of inflation, (b) the export price of manufactured goods and (c) the value and volume of imports and exports of manufactured goods.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 12 February 1992]: The rate of inflation, trade prices and trade volumes depend on a wide range of interrelated factors and it is not possible to isolate the effects of changes in profit margins.