HC Deb 29 February 1984 vol 55 cc182-3W
60. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the figure for output in manufacturing industry in the most recent quarter for which figures are available; and how this compared with the figure for the same quarter four years previously.

Mr. Butcher

In the fourth quarter of 1983 the index of production for the manufacturing industries was 96 (1980 = 100), compared with 110 in the same quarter of 1979.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish a table in the Official Report comparing the increase in manufacturing industry output in the United Kingdom and Sweden in 1983 and 1982.

Mr. Butcher

The information is as follows:

Growth in manufacturing* output in Sweden and the United Kingdom
Percentage growth
1982 on 1981 1983 on 1982†
United Kingdom 0 1½
Sweden -1 ‡4
* Manufacturing is defined as Divisions 2 to 4 of the Standard Industrial Classification (1980) for the United Kingdom, and Major Division 3 of the International Standard Industrial Classification for Sweden. There are some significant differences between the two definitions.
† The figure for Sweden has been estimated on the basis of information up to November 1983.
‡ Estimate.