HC Deb 07 December 1981 vol 14 c294W
23. Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the monthly figures of output and investment in the private sector of manufacturing industry since May 1979.

Mr. Norman Lamont

Quarterly estimates of investment and monthly estimates of output in manufacturing industry are published inBritish Business copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

Separate figures for the private sector are not available, but as the public sector represents only a small proportion of manufacturing industry the figures would not be materially different from those for manufacturing as a whole.

26. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the percentage decline in British manufacturing industry over each of the past two years.

Mr. Wakeham

During the year to the third quarter of 1980 and the year to the third quarter of 1981, manufacturing output declined by 9½ per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively. However, the decline was halted this year and in the third quarter manufacturing output increased by 1½ per cent. compared with the second quarter; changes in total United Kingdom industrial production compare favourbly with those for other major industrial countries.

32. Mr. Douglas

asked the the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the current level of investment in United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

Mr. Wakeham

Manufacturing investment including assets leased from the service industries, was about £3,700 million at 1975 prices in the twelve months up to September, 14 per cent. below the level of the previous twelve months.