§ 12. Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the state of manufacturing industry in Scotland. [17498]
§ Mrs. LiddellManufacturing industry continues to be very important to the economy of Scotland employing some 300,000 in June 2001 and supporting a further 185,000 jobs in the Scottish economy. Manufacturing exports amounted to £19.3 billion in the year to 2001–02 according to Scottish Executive figures, an increase of 8.6 per cent. compared with the previous four quarters. The sound policies of economic management, which this Government are pursuing, continue to deliver the best platform for the manufacturing sector to deal with current difficult global trading conditions.