HC Deb 18 December 1980 vol 996 c286W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his rely to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 2 December, column 105, if he will update to 1980 and 1980 prices his reply to the hon. Member for Carshalton (Mr. Forman), Official Report, 14 July 1980, column 415, showing the estimated value of lost production at different levels of unemployment, and including an estimate for 2.3 million unemployed.

Mr. Biffen

In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton (Mr. Forman) on 14 July 1980, I gave estimates of output per person in the employed labour force in 1979—at constant 1975 prices. Estimates of output per person in the employed labour force in 1980 are not yet available. Provisional figures for the level of output in 1980, at both 1975 prices and at current prices, will be available in March 1981. With regard to rebasing the 1979 figures at 1980 prices I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 6 August 1980.