HC Deb 14 February 1983 vol 37 cc17-8W
18. Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the latest available index of United Kingdom manufacturing output.

Mr. Butcher

In November 1982 the index of manufacturing production was provisionally estimated to have been 86.8 (1975 = 100).

35. Mr. Eastham

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the annual output of manufacturing industry in each of the past five years; and what has been the decline in manufacturing output since 1979.

Mr. Butcher

Between 1979 and the three months September to November 1982, the index of manufacturing production fell by 16 per cent. Annual estimates of the level of the index during the last five years are published in table 7.1 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics.

36. Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he expects the level of output of manufactures to be higher in October 1983 than in May 1979.

Mr. Butcher

Clearly no one would expect levels of output achieved at the peak of the economic cycle to be matched during a period of worldwide recession. The last three years have been a period of transition for the United Kingdom during which the problems of years of low productivity and poor competitiveness have been confronted. This has left the United Kingdom better placed to take advantage of any upturn in world activity that may occur in 1983.