Loan Guarantee Scheme (Hansard, 4 December 1979)

§ Mr. Grylls
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will issue a consultative paper on a loan guarantee scheme for small businesses to be administered by the joint stock banks; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, East (Mr. Bright) on 12 November—[Vol. 973, cs. 894–95]—when he said that the Government are studying possibilities.

TABLE 1

percentages

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977^* 1978^*

Wool textiles … 10.1 11.2 0.2 –13.9 1.6 9.5 2.4 –0.1

Clothing … 4.0 5.1 9.2 1.7 5.9 2.3 4.6 5.4

^* Provisional

The underlying figures of productivity have been calculated by dividing the index of output—1975=100–by an index of employment—1975=100.

Changes in productivity for manufacturing industry as a whole are as follows:

TABLE 2

Percentages

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977

United Kingdom … 3.5 5.7 7.6 –2.2 –1.3 4.8 –0.1

Belgium … 2.3 7.8 5.9 3.7 –4.8 13.7 4.2

France … 5.2 4.0 4.7 1.8 –5.6 11.1 1.5

German Federal Republic … 1.7 11.8 6.9 –0.3 –0.8 7.4 4.3

The underlying figures of productivity are measured by manufacturing output at constant 1975 prices per manufacturing earner and salaried employee. Figurse for Italy and 1978 are not available on a comparable basis.

Source: OECD.

148W

§ Mr. David Mitchell
Expenditure on research and development under the Science and Technology Act by the Department of Industry since 1974–75 was as follows:

TABLE 1
									percentages
		1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977^*	1978^*
Wool textiles	…	10.1	11.2	0.2	–13.9	1.6	9.5	2.4	–0.1
Clothing	…	4.0	5.1	9.2	1.7	5.9	2.3	4.6	5.4
^* Provisional
The underlying figures of productivity have been calculated by dividing the index of output—1975=100–by an index of employment—1975=100.

TABLE 2
								Percentages
		1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
United Kingdom	…	3.5	5.7	7.6	–2.2	–1.3	4.8	–0.1
Belgium	…	2.3	7.8	5.9	3.7	–4.8	13.7	4.2
France	…	5.2	4.0	4.7	1.8	–5.6	11.1	1.5
German Federal Republic	…	1.7	11.8	6.9	–0.3	–0.8	7.4	4.3
The underlying figures of productivity are measured by manufacturing output at constant 1975 prices per manufacturing earner and salaried employee. Figurse for Italy and 1978 are not available on a comparable basis.
Source: OECD.