HC Deb 08 May 1989 vol 152 cc302-3W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to increases in productivity in(a) the steel industry and (b) the coal industry since 1979.

Mr. Atkins

[holding answer 5 May 1989]: The official data series on productivity was published by the Department of Employment in the Employment Gazette but these do not include separately identifiable figures For the steel industry and the coal industry. The following data from the annual census of production provide the required information for the iron and steel industry and for coal extraction and the manufacture of solid fuels for the period to 1987, the most recent year for which figures are available.

Iron and steel industry1
Year Production (gross value added)(1985 prices) Employment Productivity (gross value added per head)(1985 prices)
£ billion thousands £ thousands
1979 1.4 184.8 7.3
1980 0.9 145.0 6.4
1981 1.2 111.9 10.6
1982 0.9 92.9 9.6
1983 1.2 78.6 15.8
1984 1.3 69.7 18.1
1985 1.4 67.3 20.3
1986 1.4 64.0 21.9
1987 1.7 56.0 30.6
1 The iron and steel industry comprises group 221 of the Standard Industrial Classification (revised 1980) and covers the iron and steel industry as defined by the European Coal and Steel Community in the treaty of Paris, 1951.

Coal extraction and manufacture of solid fuels2
Year Production (gross value added)(1985 prices) Employment Productivity (gross value added per head)(1985 prices)
1979 3.9 282.9 13.9
1980 4.1 280.5 14.6
1981 4.0 268.2 14.8
1982 3.7 256.5 14.6
1983 3.3 236.3 13.9
1984 0.9 217.3 4.2
1985 2.6 172.4 15.1
1986 2.3 157.6 14.7
1987 1.9 130.6 14.9
2 Coal extraction and manufacture of solid fuels comprises group 111 of the Standard Industrial Classification (revised 1980).

Source: Annual Census of Production.

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