§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of new plants opened each year (a) on Merseyside, (b) in Kirkby and (c) in Knowsley since 1960, and the number that have since closed.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Department's records of openings cover only those manufacturing plants with more than 10 employees. Comprehensive information is not available for the period prior to 1966; nor for the period since 1982 due to delays associated with its collection. A breakdown of the number of openings by year, together with details of the number of these which have subsequently closed, are given in the table for Merseyside metropolitan county, the district of Knowsley and Kirkby employment office area.
The Number of Openings of Manufacturing Plants 1966–82 Year of opening Mersey-side Metropolitan County Knowsley district Kirkby EOA No. of openings (of which now closed) No. of openings (of which now closed) No. of openings (of which now closed) 1966 10 (3) — — — — 1967 11 (—) 1 — 1 — 1968 9 (2) 1 — — — 1969 13 (2) 3 — 2 — 1970 15 (3) 3 (2) — — 1971 17 (2) 5 — 2 — 1972 14 (4) 2 (1) 1 (1) 1973 21 (2) 1 (1) — — 1974 17 (3) 2 (1) 2 (1) 1975 16 (1) 4 — 3 — 1976 14 (2) 2 (1) 1 — 1977 17 (1) 4 — 1 — 1978 11 (—) 2 — — — 1979 9 (1) — — — — 1980 10 (—) — — — — 1981 16 (2) 4 (1) 2 (1) 1982 3 (—) — — — — 1966–82 223 (28) 34 (7) 15 (3) Notes:
(1) This table includes only openings of manufacturing plants employing more than 10.
(2) Merseyside Metropolitan County includes both Knowsley District and the Kirkby EOA.
(3) Knowsley District includes the Kirkby EOA.