HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc288-9W
Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessments she has made of the impact of Britain's employment laws on(a) the loss of jobs in manufacturing industry and (b) the transfer of UK jobs to countries in the Eurozone in the last five years. [34836]

Mr. Wilson

[holding answer 8 February 2002]: The information is as follows:

(a) The Department publishes Regulatory Impact assessments for all proposals for legislation before they are introduced. There is no evidence to suggest that employment legislation has affected the level of manufacturing employment.

(b) It is not possible to estimate how many jobs have moved from the UK to other countries in the EU or from other EU countries into the UK. However the UK continues to remain an attractive location for inward investment. Almost a quarter (24 per cent.) of all FDI in Europe goes to the UK compared to 14 per cent. for Germany and 11 per cent. for France (1999).