§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the source of the statistics published by his Department relating to company profitability, liquidity and investment.
§ Mr. MaplesGross profitability is calculated using national accounts estimates, all the sources of which are 487W described in "National Accounts: Sources and Methods". The main sources are tax assessments and statistical inquiries.
More information on the calculation of the profitability of industrial and commercial companies, on the sources of data on liquidity and on the sources of data on gross trading profits are contained in Central Statistical Office bulletins 71/91, 89/91 and 86/91, respectively.
Copies of all the publications referred to are in the Library of the House.