HC Deb 12 December 1966 vol 738 cc24-7
43. Mr. Robert Davies

asked the Minister of Labour how much of the increase in unemployment during the last six months is in service industries; and how much is in manufacturing and export industries.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Between the May and November counts, the numbers registered as wholly unemployed who were previously employed in the service industries increased by 68,468. The corresponding figure for manufacturing industries was 47,587. These figures do not include those temporarily stopped. Industries cannot be divided into those which are exporting and those which are not.

Mr. Davies

Would my hon. Friend say whether she is satisfied that these figures represent the kind of shake-out that was envisaged by the Prime Minister and effect of the July measures that was intended?

Mrs. Williams

I would not say that my right hon. Friend and I are wholly satisfied—that would be far too complacent a position—but I would say that the shortages of labour in exporting firms are easing and there is some evidence that the effect of the Selective Employment Tax and Government policy is moving people into the industries in which they are required.

Mr. Ridley

Is the hon. Lady aware that in the two months up to 9th November 132,000 people were found jobs in service industries and 123,000 in manufacturing? How can she claim success for her policy when she admits that more people are going into service industries than productive industries?

Mrs. Williams

I have just given the hon. Gentleman the figures for between May and November. Those figures indicate some movement into manufacturing industry. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the figures that he has given include those temporarily stopped, and so the figures are distorted by the specific troubles of the car industry.

44. Mr. Davies

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent there has been a shift in employment from service in- dustries to manufacturing and export industries during the last six months; and if he will publish a statement giving detailed figures.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

It is provisionally estimated that, between April and October, 1966, the number of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Great Britain fell by 17,000 to 8,865,000. Reliable estimates of short-term changes in employment in all service industries are not available because the monthly surveys do not cover all these industries. Industries cannot be divided into those which are exporting and those which are not. As the answer to the second part of the Question consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Davies

Would my hon. Friend say whether the information that she has shows effective redeployment from service to manufacturing and exporting industries?

Mrs. Williams

I must repeat what I said to my hon. Friend, that it does not show a perfect position. I do not think that my right hon. Friend and I would for one moment claim that. But it shows that certain of the serious shortages, not least in exporting industries, are now easing.

Mr. Biffen

Are we to understand from that Answer that, although the Ministry of Labour cannot identify exporting industries, it thinks it can identify future exporting companies?

Mrs. Williams

I think that the hon. Gentleman appreciates, because he is very knowledgeable about these matters, that very many industries and firms export a substantial proportion of their product, but it is a question of definition as to whether one calls them "exporting firms" or not. There are very few firms which export substantially the greater part of their product, let alone the total of their product.

Sir K. Joseph

Does not the hon. Lady agree that if the Government set themselves deliberately and publicly the task of altering the structure of industry to the benefit, rightly or wrongly, of export and manufacture, they should equip themselves, by way of a sample survey or some other means, with statistics to show the public and the House whether they are achieving their purpose or not?

Mrs. Williams

I think that the right hon. Gentleman has a fair point. He will be aware that we are trying to improve the statistics all the time, and he

PROVISIONAL ESTIMATES OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES (BY ORDERS OF THE STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION) IN GREAT BRITAIN AT APRIL AND OCTOBER 1966
(Thousands)
April 1966 October 1966 Change
Food, drink and tobacco … … … 805.5 832.6 +27.1
Chemicals and allied industries … … … 519.9 522.4 + 2.5
Metal manufacture … … … 621.8 615.0 - 6.8
Engineering and electrical goods … … … 2,311.9 2,318.1 + 6.2
Shipbuilding and marine engineering … … … 200.1 198.7 - 1.4
Vehicles … … … 861.0 845.8 -15.2
Metal goods … … … 591.0 584.6 - 6.4
Textiles … … … 759.8 747.5 -12.3
Leather, leather goods and fur … … … 59.8 57.3 - 2.5
Clothing and footwear … … … 534.9 527.1 - 7.8
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. … … … 346.1 344.0 - 2.1
Timber, furniture, etc. … … … 293.5 287.7 - 5.8
Paper, printing and publishing … … … 640.4 645.7 + 5.3
Other manufacturing industries … … … 336.2 338.1 + 1.9
Total, all manufacturing industries … … … 8,881.9 8,864.6 -17.3