§ Mr. Clayasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed by the British Steel Corporation in the northern region for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1986, c. 409]: Defining the northern region as Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cleveland, Durham, and Cumbria, the following table gives the number employed there by BSC at end-September in each of the years since 1979:
Number 1979 35,800 1980 28,950 1981 20,450 1982 15,250 1983 11,910 1984 10,880 1985 9,920 These figures have been supplied by BSC. The reduction in numbers is due to the need for the industry to reach the productivity levels necessary to remain competitive. A number of jobs have also been returned to the private sector as BSC has decided that certain companies, in particular Redpath Dorman Long, can resume operations in the private sector.