HC Deb 18 January 1991 vol 183 cc602-3W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the manpower figures for each part of nationalised industry in 1978–79 and 1988–89, showing the reduction or increase in each case and also the decrease in each sector due to denationalisation.

Mr. Mellor

Outturn data for the nationalised industries for 1978–79 and 1988–89 were published in appendix D of chapter 21 of the 1990 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 1021). Over that period manpower fell by 1,062,000 from 1,843,000 to 781,000, a reduction of 57.6 per cent. Nationalised industries that were privatised between 1978–79 and 1988–89 employed about 650,000 people at the time of privatisation. Information on manpower figures for each nationalised industry for the years 1978–79 and 1988–89 can be found in the annual report and accounts of each industry for these years.