§ 20. Mrs. PeacockTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rate of economic growth in the United Kingdom and comparable rates in other major industrialised countries.
§ Mr. BrookeOver the year to the second quarter of 1987 the United Kingdom economy grew almost 4 per cent., which is faster than any other major industrialised economy.
§ Mrs. PeacockI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that investment in manufacturing in Britain, particularly in the north of England, is contributing to that success?
§ Mr. BrookeYes, I join my hon. Friend in that observation. It is a significant fact that we are growing faster than any other major industrialised economy.
§ Ms. ArmstrongDoes that mean that the figures showing that there is now a decline in investment in manufacturing, which were issued by the hon. Gentleman's Department last month, were wrong? What do the Government intend to do to ensure that areas such as the north will receive proper investment in manufacturing so that they can play their part in Britain's economic recovery?
§ Mr. BrookeI think that the hon. Lady is borrowing from question 5. Investment has risen by 6 per cent, in the past 12 months.