HC Deb 28 November 1984 vol 68 c499W
Mrs. Peacock

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the effect on the prospects for investment in Britain of the recent industrial disputes.

Mr. Butcher

Although an upsurge in industrial disputes inevitably harms the climate for investment, their effect has been confined largely to the coal industry. The Department's last investment intentions survey indicated a rise of over 9 per cent. in 1984 in the volume of investment by manufacturing, construction, distribution and selected service industries and a further increase in 1985. This view was confirmed for manufacturing industry, by the CBI's quarterly industrial trends survey published on 30 October.