HC Deb 04 July 1978 vol 953 cc135-7W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, in percentage terms, the volume of manufacturing output per employee, for the periods 1971 to 1973 and 1974 to 1977, for each of the following countries: the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, West Germany, Italy and Japan.

Mr. Denzil Davies

Consistent information comparing the percentage change in manufacturing output per employee in the United Kingdom with the countries listed is available for the period 1971–73 and for 1974–75 only, and is shown below:

MANUFACTURING OUTPUT PER EMPLOYEES*:PERCENTAGE CHANGES
1970=100
1971–1973 1974–1975
United Kingdom +14.2 -0.7
United States of America +10.2 -0.9
Belgium +15.1 -4.8
Netherlands +14.2 -4.5
France† +12.4 -7.2
West Germany +20.0 -1.8
Italy +13.2 -9.5
Japan +19.3 -6.3
Sources:
OECD Industrial Production Historical Statistics 1960–1975.
OECD Labour Force Statistics 1964–1975.
* Manufacturing output at constant 1970 prices per manufacturing wage earner and salaried employee.
† The definition of manufacturing output excludes food, beverages, clothing and wood products and furniture and is therefore not consistent with the employment definition.

It is not possible to compile estimates of changes in manufacturing output per employee for countries other than the United Kingdom for periods since 1975 because compatible data on manufacturing employment are not available. An estimate of the change in United Kingdom manufacturing output per employee—employees in employment in manufacturing—for the final period specified in the Question is as follows:

UNITED KINGDOM MANUFACTURING OUTPUT PER EMPLOYEE(1)
1970=100
percentage change
1974–1977(2) +2.1
(1) Figure based on data appearing in the Monthly Digest, May 1978.
(2) Provisional.

Mr. Lawson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide tables showing, for both 1970 to 1973 and 1973 to 1976, the average annual rate of growth of (a) gross domestic product at constant prices and (b) output per head at constant prices, for the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, the United States of America, Canada, Sweden and Japan.

Mr. Denzil Davies

Average annual rates of growth of (a) GDP at constant prices and (b) output per head at constant prices for the periods and countries specified in the question and on a comparable basis are given in the growth triangles in part two of "National Accounts of OECD countries 1976, Volume 1, Main Aggregates" (pages 26–129), published by the OECD.