HC Deb 20 December 1982 vol 34 cc340-1W
Miss Boothroyd

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish, for the United Kingdom as a whole and for the West Midlands, the total number of jobs lost in the manufacturing sector from 1966 to the most recent date available, the total number of manufacturing job losses from 1979 to the most recent available date and figures showing job losses or increases in the service sector for the same periods.

Mr. Alison

Precise information about job losses and job gains is not available, but an indication of the net effect can be seen by comparing the levels of employees in employment at different dates. Between June 1966 and June 1982, the latest date for which comprehensive employment estimates are available, the numbers of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in the United Kingdom and the West Midlands region decreased by 2,887,000 and 472,000, respectively. The corresponding decreases between June 1979 and June 1982 were 1,479,000 and 239,000.

In the service industries, the numbers of employees in employment increased by 1,347,000 in the United Kingdom and 94,000 in the West Midlands region between June 1966 and June 1982. Between June 1979 and June 1982 the numbers fell by 601,000 and 57,000, respectively.

The employment estimates for June 1979 and June 1982 are provisional; the foregoing increases and decreases should, therefore, be treated as provisional.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in manufacturing industry; what proportion this figure represents of the total work force in the latest year for which figures are available; and what are the comparable figures for 1973.

Mr. Alison

At June 1982, the latest date for which comprehensive employment estimates are available, the provisional number of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Great Britain was 5,599,000, representing 28 per cent. of employees in employment in all industries and services at the same date. The comparable figures at June 1973 were 7,664,000 and 35 per cent.

Mr. Wardell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of full-time (a) males and (b) females aged 21 years and over in the following gross weekly earning bands (i) under £40, (ii) £41 to £50, (iii) £51 to £60, (iv) £61 to £70, (v) £71 to 80, (vi) £81 to £90, (vii) £91 to 100, (viii) £101 to £110, (ix) £111 to £120, (x) £121 to £130, (xi) £131 to £140, (xii) £141 to £150, (xiii) £151 to £200, (xiv) £201 to £500 and (xv) over £500.

Mr. Alison

The available information on the distribution of weekly earnings of adult full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence in April 1982 is given in table 29 of part B of the report on the 1982 new earnings survey, a copy of which is in the Library.