HC Deb 01 February 1984 vol 53 c249
4. Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give figures for output of British foundries for each of the last 10 years.

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. David Trippier)

Output in United Kingdom foundries has fallen by almost 50 per cent. since 1975. With permission, I shall arrange for a detailed table to be published in the Official Report.

Mr. Leighton

Is the Under-Secretary as worried as I am by the continuing decline of British manufacturing industry which that answer shows? Will he comment on the announced intention of the Ford Motor Company Ltd. to cease foundry production at Dagenham, thus causing thousands of workers to he unemployed, and to import parts from the continent? Has the hon. Gentleman noticed that countries as diverse as Mexico and Spain have laid down terms to the multinationals and said, "If you want our market, you must manufacture here or have a certain percentage of domestic components," and they should also produce a positive balance of payments? Will the hon. Gentleman consider a similar industrial policy in this country to rescue and safeguard British industry?

Mr. Trippier

I regret the proposed closure of the Dagenham foundry, which is due mainly to the

Output of United Kingdom Foundries: 1974–83
Total Production (thousand tonnes)
Index of Production for Foundries* (1980 = 100 Iron Castings† Steel Castings‡ Aluninium Castings║ Copper Castings¶
1974 N/A 3,190 270 134 71
1975 148 3,000 263 121 67
1976 148 2,890 255 121 66
1977 145 2,690 246 122 65
1978 139 2,620 204 132 67
1979 139 2,580 192 119 62
1980 100 1,830 174 102 61
1981 87 1,630 145 83 59
1982 83 1,490 153 78 59
1982 (Jan. to Oct.) 84 1,260 128 66 50
1983 (Jan. to Oct.) 76 1,120 105 54 42
* Covers foundries of iron, steel, aluminium, copper and other non-ferrous metals and their alloys, classified as Activity Headings 3111 and 3112 in the Standard Industrial Classification (1980).
† Source: BSO iron castings inquiry. Incorporating revisions to last published figures.
‡ Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.
║ Source: Aluminium Federation. The data relate to total despatches.
¶ Source: World Bureau of Metal Statistics.
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