§ Mr. Edgeasked the Secretary of State for Industry to what causes he attributes the variations in gross domestic product between different standard regions of the British Isles.
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§ Mr. KaufmanEstimates of the gross domestic products in the different standard regions of the United Kingdom for the years 1966–73 were given in a Written Answer to my hon. Friend on 1st December. The estimates vary considerably between regions because of the differing populations of the regions. The article inEconomic Trends, May 1975, referred to in that reply, includes estimates of the relative differences in GDP per head in the standard regions in 1971. Since GDP may be—and in this case has been—estimated by aggregating incomes the observed differences will reflect differences in the age/sex structures of the populations, in activity and unemployment rates, in average earnings, and in the regional allocation of industries with differing gross profits per person employed. These will in turn reflect differences in industrial structure and in changes in that structure.