HC Deb 15 January 1979 vol 960 c1312
15. Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Productivity Council.

Mr. Les Huckfield

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of the British Productivity Council from time to time, but he has at present no plans for a further meeting.

Mr. Durant

When the Minister next meets the chairman of the Productivity Council will he discuss with him why productivity in this country is one of the lowest in Europe? Will he discuss with him the possibility that this may be due to a lack of incentive, overmanning and industrial problems, and not fudge the issue, as was done in an earlier answer?

Mr. Huckfield

With absolutely no attempt to fudge at all, the hon. Gentleman will see, if he looks at the figures, that between 1970 and 1975 productivity in manufacturing industry in this country increased by 13.4 per cent. That was higher than in France, Japan and Italy. It was the same as in the United States and Belgium. Since then that increase in the growth of productivity has continued.