HC Deb 17 March 1980 vol 981 cc47-9W
20. Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assessment he has made of the effects of the steel dispute upon industries dependent upon steel.

of England for each of the past five years;

(2) what was the total Government assistance to industry, per head of the population, in Wales for each of the past five years;

(3) what was the total Government assistance to industry, per head of the population, in Scotland for each of the past five years.

Mr. David Mitchell

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. Much of the assistance given to industry by the Government cannot be sub-divided between individual regions or areas without disproportionate staff time and cost. Total expenditure in the years specified on the main forms of regional preferential assistance to industry and on national schemes of assistance under section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 is estimated as follows:

Mr. Michael Marshall

In February, production in the engineering and allied industries the main steel-using sector, was 2 per cent. below normal levels as a result of the steel dispute. This followed a loss of one half of one per cent. in January. The exports of these industries were virtually unaffected in January and were 1 per cent. below normal in February.