HC Deb 23 June 1982 vol 26 cc102-3W
Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the total manpower figures for the British steel industry for each year since 1972, specifying the separate figures for the public and private sectors.

Mr. Butcher

The following is the available information:

Total labour force (including apprentices) engaged on ECSC* iron and steel activities
Private sector British Steel Corporation Total
December 1972 29.6 170.9 200.5
December 1973 28.8 169.7 198.5
December 1974 32.8 164.9 197.7
December 1975 27.4 157.0 184.4

Private sector British Corporation Steel Total
December 1976 29.2 153.1 182.3
December 1977 28.1 149.9 178.0
December 1978 26.6 138.8 165.4
December 1979 26.0 130.6 156.6
December 1980 21.2 90.9 112.1
December 1981 15.2 73.1 88.3
May 1982 15.1 70.5 85.6
Notes
* Comparable figures are not available on a wider definition of the steel industry.

Source: British Steel Corporation.

Source: Eurostat.

Changes in numbers placed on Training Opportunities Scheme
Total Men Women
Year Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage
1977–78—1978–79 +6,315 +7.1 +2,078 +3.8 +4,237 +12.4
1978–79—1979–80 -7,000 -7.4 -2,224 -3.9 -4,776 -12.4
1979–80—1980–81 -9,277 -10.5 -2,291 -4.2 -6,986 -20.8
1980–81—1981–82 *-7,543 -9.6 Not yet available
*Provisional.