§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many jobs have been lost in the confectionery industry in the most recent 12-months period for which figures are available; and what increase has taken place in short-time working over the same period;
(2) how many jobs have been lost in the confectionery industry in Halifax in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what increase in short-time working has taken place over the same period.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1980, c. 93]: Precise information about job gains and losses is not available but an indication of the net change can be seen by comparing the levels of the estimates of employees in employment at different dates.
Between April 1979 and April 1980, the latest date for which information is available, the number of employees in the cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery industry (Minimum List Heading 217 of the Standard Industrial Classification) in Great Britain fell by 3,400. The figure is provisional.
Statistics on short-time working are collected for one selected week in each month and relate to time lost by operatives. The estimated number of hours lost in the cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery industry in the week ended 19 April 1980 was 37,000. In the week ended 7 April 1979 it is estimated that there were no operatives on short-time working in the industry.
Corresponding information for local areas is not available.