§ Mr. Gouldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on industrial productivity of the faster than average rate of decline between May 1979 and the present in labour-intensive industries; and whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the relative weights and the effect of the changes on the total.
§ Mr. LawsonAppropriate information is not readily available. Substantial gains in productivity have been recorded in sectors such as steel and motor vehicles which are not typically regarded as "labour-intensive". Recent productivity improvements, particularly in manufacturing, cannot simply be explained by demanning; improved capital utilisation, and better work practices and attitudes have also played an important role.