§ Mr. Priorasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the rise in productivity in 1965 or in the latest 12-month period to date.
§ Mr. George BrownThe latest 12-month period for which figures of productivity for the economy as a whole are available is the 12 months beginning October, 1964, and ending September, 1965. In this period output per man was greater than in the previous 12 months by 1.6 per cent. As weekly hours worked fell in the same period, output per man-hour increased at a greater rate. Figures are not available for the economy636W as a whole on that basis, but it is now estimated that in the case of manufacturing industry the increase for productivity per man-hour over the same period was about 3½ per cent.
Present forecasts indicate that productivity is currently rising over the economy as a whole at a rate of about 2½ per cent. This will, of course, include important areas where the rise is greater.