HC Deb 04 December 1985 vol 88 cc229-30W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the total number of jobs lost in the textile and clothing industry since 1960.

Mr. Alan Clark

Information about job gains and job losses is not available from the Department's statistics, but an indication of the net changes can be seen by comparing levels of employment at different dates. Between June 1960 and June 1985 (the latest date for which figures are available) the total number of employees in employment in the textiles and clothing industries in Great Britain decreased by about 715,000.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Paymaster General how many people have been employed in the clothing industry in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what is this figure as a percentage of the total manufacturing labour force in each of those years.

Mr. Alan Clark

Statistics of employees employed in the clothing industry are not available for the United Kingdom, but the Great Britain figures for the period for June 1975 to June 1985 are as follows:

Estimated numbers of employees in employment in the clothing industry* in Great Britain
June of each year Number As percentage of all employees in manufacturing industries
1975 311,900 4.2
1976 294,200 4.1
1977 300,400 4.2
1978 293,500 4.1
1979 291,200 4.1
1980 262,400 3.9

June of each year Number As percentage of all employees in manufacturing industries
1981 224,200 3.7
1982 210,000 3.6
1983 197,100 3.6
1984 196,400 3.6
1985 191,600 3.6
* Groups 453 and 456 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification

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