§ 37. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the latest level of manufacturing output; and how this compares with the level at May 1979.
§ Mr. MacGregorIn the three months to August 1981 the index of production for manufacturing industry was 89.7 compared with 107.4 in the second quarter of 1979. The second quarter of 1979 was a period of "catching up" in production after the road haulage dispute and the abnormally bad weather in the first quarter of 1979.
§ 38. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the output of manufacturing industry in 1981.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe fall in manufacturing output was halted earlier this year, and the latest indications are that activity is now increasing, having risen by some 2 per cent. between the three months ended August and the previous three months.