HC Deb 25 March 1971 vol 814 cc172-3W
58. Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has made of the amount of manpower which will be available over the next five years; and how this compares with the amount required to meet a 4 per cent. growth rate over the period.

Mr. Dudley Smith

The working population is expected to fall slightly between 1971 and 1976, mainly because of the raising of the school-leaving age in 1973. In these circumstances, output per head would need to rise by some 4 per cent. a year or more to sustain a 4 per cent. growth rate.