HC Deb 29 February 1984 vol 55 cc178-9W
47. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tonnage of (a) bulk steel and (b) special steels was imported into the United Kingdom from European Economic Community countries in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively.

Mr. Butcher

Bulk steel has been taken to mean all non-alloy steel, and special steel to be stainless and other alloy steel.

The following is the information:

United Kingdom imports of steel industry products
000 tonnes
1980 1981 1982 1983*
Belgium/Luxembourg
Non-alloy 558 386 380 350
Stainless and other alloy 10 9 7 7
Denmark
Non-alloy 94 86 83 64
Stainless and other alloy 0 1 0 0
France
Non-alloy 425 279 331 218
Stainless and other alloy 50 46 47 42
Greece
Non-alloy 9 0 6 14
Stainless and other alloy — 0 — —
Irish Republic
Non-alloy 19 21 31 40

1980 1981 1982 1983*
Stainless and other alloy 0 0 0 0
Italy
Non-alloy 237 191 265 144
Stainless and other alloy 12 13 20 18
Netherlands
Non-alloy 530 520 451 397
Stainless and other alloy 3 3 2 3
West Germany
Non-alloy 1,054 894 901 740
Stainless and other alloy 53 42 68 106
* January-November

Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau, compiled from Her Majesty Customs and Excise retums

Note: 0 = less than 500 tonnes

Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the productivity per man-year of workers in the United Kingdom steel industry compared with that of each other European Economic Community country; and what is the approximate level of wages in the United Kingdom industry compared with those payable in these other countries.

Mr. Butcher

The following is the available information:

Crude Steel Production Per Man-Year Gross Hourly Wage for Manual Workers
tonnes £
1983 *1982
Belgium 250 4.32
Denmark 329 4.32
France 190 2.93
Greece not available not available
Ireland 240 not available
Italy 239 2.69
Luxembourg 266 3.93
Netherlands 228 not available
United Kingdom 223 3.32
West Germany 212 3.68

Source: Eurostat.

* Latest available; converted from local currencies into sterling on the average daily spot exchange rates for 1982.