§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Industry what information he has concerning man-hours per vehicle produced in (a) the British motor industry as a whole and (b) British Leyland; and if he will publish it in the Official Report.
§ Mr. MeacherGeneral comparisons of the number of man-hours per vehicle produced, which do not take account of the differing range and complexity of the vehicles involved and the varying extents to which manufacturers buy in parts and components, are not in themselves meaningful. In chapter 9 of its report on British Leyland the team under Sir Don Ryder refers to the unreliability of such comparisons, but does, nevertheless, recognise the need for improved productivity and its proposals are designed to bring about these improvements.