§ Mr. TurnerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the sector of industry which makes cookers and gas fires; how many such companies are known to his Department in the west midlands; and how many people are employed in the sector.
§ Mr. SainsburyUnited Kingdom production of cookers and gas fires in 1991 was £355 million. Of this, about 9 per cent. was exported. Firms in these sub-sectors have been adversely affected by the downturn in the housing market and in consumer demand.
Twelve firms in the west midlands are known to make cookers or gas fires. These employ 3,700 people.