§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage reduction in British steel-making capacity since 1977; and what have been the corresponding reductions in each of the other European Economic Community steel making nations.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe most recent published information on the percentage reduction in British steelmaking capacity since 1977, and the corresponding reductions in the other European Community nations is shown in the following table.
175W
Effective capacity of crude steel production million tones Country 1977 1984 Reduction per cent. United Kingdom 28.9 23.6 -18.4 Federal Republic of Germany 67.7 54.7 -19.2 Belgium 19.2 15.5 -19.3 France 33.3 27.0 -18.9 Italy 34.1 37.0 +8.5
Country 1977 1984 Reduction per cent. Luxembourg 8.2 6.4 -22.0 Netherlands 8.2 8.0 -2.4 Denmark 1.2 0.9 -25.0 Ireland 0.1 0.3 -200.0 European Community (9) 200.7 173.4 -13.6 Greece 1.3 4.1 +315.0 European Community (10) — 177.5 — Source: OECD.