§ Mr. Michael McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been lost since 1945 in textiles, mining, steel, docks, engineering and agriculture in the North-West region; and how this compares with jobs lost in the same categories in Scotland, Wales and the Northern region.
§ Mr. Jim LesterPrecise information about job losses and job gains is not available, but an indication of the net changes can he seen by comparing the levels of employees in employment at different dates. However, information for dates earlier than June 1959 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Moreover, the series is affected by changes in method, industrial classification and regional boundaries and for these reasons only approximate changes can be given.
In the following table the changes between June 1959 and June 1977, the latest date for which information in this detailed form is available, are given for the areas specified. The industries conform as closely as is possible with the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification definitions:
278W
Textiles Order XIII Mining and quarrying Order II
Steel Minimum List Headings 311, 312 and 313 Port and inland waterways Minimum List Heading 706 Engineering Orders VII, VIII and IX Agriculture and horticulture Minimum List Heading 001
(Thousands) North West Scotland Wales North Textiles -173 -40 — +4 Mining and quarrying -45 -63 -83 -120 Steel -17 -14 -6 -14 Port and inland waterways -27 -7 -4 -5 Engineering -25 +14 +22 +30 Agriculture and horticulture -15 -45 -15 -24