HC Deb 21 November 1979 vol 974 cc195-7W
Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total numbers of employees and how many are estimated to be on short-time in the Lancashire cotton, man-made fibre, spinning textile sector, taking cotton and man-made fibres separately.

Mr. Jim Lester

At June 1976, the latest date for which employment figures are available for these areas, there were 32,000 employees in employment in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the spinning and doubling on the cotton and flax systems industry—minimum list heading 412 of the Standard Industrial Classification. The corresponding figures for Great Britain is 51,200.

Statistics of short-time working in single industries are available only for the whole of Great Britain. At 4 August 1979, there were 42,600 employees in employment in the industry and the number on short-time during the week ending 4 August was 200.

Separate figures for cotton and man-made fibres are not available.

Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many mills have closed down in the Lancashire cotton, man-made fibre, spinning textile sector, taking cotton and man-made fibres separately.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that a total of 12 mills, 8 cotton and 4 man-made fibre, classified under minimum list heading 412 of the Standard Industrial Classification confirmed their intention to close between 1 November 1978 and 31 October 1979.

Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have been made redundant in the Lancashire cotton, man-made fibre, spinning textile sector, taking cotton and man-made fibres separately.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during the 12-month period to the end of October 1979, 3,669 redundancies were confirmed as having occurred in Great Britain in the sector covered by minimum list heading 412 of the Standard Industrial Classification—spinning and doubling on the cotton and flax systems. 1,223 of these redundancies were in the cotton sector and 2,446 in man-made fibres.

Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers have experienced short-time working during 1979 in the Lancashire cotton, woven fabric industry, taking cotton and man-made fibres separately.

Mr. Jim Lester

Statistics of short-time working in particular industries are available only for the whole of Great Britain and for a selected week in each month. During the period January to August 1979 the average number on short-time in those weeks in the weaving of cotton, linen and man-made fibres industry—minimum list heading 413 of the Standard Industrial Classification—was about 150. Separate figures for cotton and man-made fibres are not available.