§ 28. Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what, from information available from inter national sources, are the comparative figures for steel output per man employed in the United Kingdom compared with the United States, Japan and France, and how these figures have altered compared 219W with 10 years ago; and what are the similar figures in relation to capital employed in the steel industries in these countries.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThere are no generally accepted international sources for the information requested, but a past study indicated that in 1965, with account taken of the different pattern of products produced, output per man was in the United States about twice as great as in the United Kingdom; in France about the same as in the United Kingdom; and in Japan about one and a half times greater. It is estimated that in 1971 the output per man was in the United States still about twice that in the United Kingdom; in France marginally higher than in the United Kingdom; and in Japan about three times higher than in the United Kingdom.
I must warn my hon. Friend that this is a very difficult field statistically because the patterns of production and scope of employment statistics vary in each country.
Similar comparisons for capital employed are not available.