Manufacturing Industry (Hansard, 19 May 1993)

§ 16. Mr. Harry Greenway
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the parts of manufacturing industry which show the greatest potential for growth; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
The Department's objective is to encourage and assist all sectors of the United Kingdom's manufacturing industry to become more competitive both at home and abroad.

§ Mr. Greenway
Can my right hon. Friend confirm that between 1 million and 1.5 million more people are in work now than were in work in 1983? That means that more than 25 million people are in jobs in the United Kingdom. Are not a substantial number of those in the manufacturing industries? Will my right hon. Friend encourage small business—while not neglecting large business—to provide jobs, because that is where a large potential for increase in manufacturing jobs lies?

§ Mr. Sainsbury
I very much agree that smaller businesses have a valuable role not only in manufacturing industry but in the provision of employment opportunities. Indeed, that is why the Government have a comprehensive range of services to assist small firms, including the small firms loan guarantee scheme, which was enhanced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in the Budget; consultancies under the enterprise initiative; one-stop shops, which will give a better service to small firms; and the partnership sourcing initiative.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
Why should not regional policy be framed in such a way as to back growth sectors of the economy? On the whole question of regional policy, when will we have a statement from the Government on the redrawing of the assisted areas map? It is causing deep concern in my county of Cumbria.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
I can understand why the hon. Gentleman is concerned to have an announcement—we will certainly make one as soon as we can. He is aware that the proposals for the new map for assisted areas are subject to the approval of the Commission. We can never be sure how long the Commission will take to give us that approval, as I drew to the attention of the House in answer to an earlier question.
The hon. Gentleman is well aware that regional policy is directed at providing better employment opportunities in areas of the country that suffer from a lack of employment opportunities relative to other more prosperous areas.