HC Deb 27 March 1985 vol 76 cc259-61W
Mr. MacKenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people were employed in the textile industry in Scotland in 1979; and how this figure compares with the latest available figure;

(2) how many people in Scotland were employed in the production of Scotch whisky in 1979; and what is the latest up to date figure;

(3) how many people were employed in the electrical appliance industry in Scotland in 1979; and what is the current number;

(4) how many people in Scotland were employed in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry in 1979; and how this figure compares with the latest available figures;

(5) how many people were employed in steelmaking in Scotland in 1979; and how this figure compares with latest available figures.

Mr. Younger

The estimated numbers of employees in employment in Scotland are set out in the table:

1979 1982
Textile industry 50,100 32,500
Spirit distilling and compounding 23,400 18,800
Domestic type electricappliance industry 4,100 2,300
Shipbuilding and repairing 30,600 26,000
Iron and Steel manufacturing 22,700 13,800

The estimates are based on the census of production; those for 1982 are the latest available.

Mr. MacKenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in Scotland in 1979; and how this figure compares with the latest published figures.

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84
Cumbernauld
Jobs created 806 512 544 609 1,066
Jobs lost 611 1,662 1,816 559 600
East Kilbride
Jobs created 599 587 874 820 1,110
Jobs lost 915 4,437 1,310 1,662 965

Mr. Younger

The seasonally adjusted number of employees in employment in Scotland is estimated to have been 2,098,000 in June 1979 and 1,921,000 in September 1984. The latter estimate is provisional.

Mr. MacKenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many job vacancies were notified in 1979; and what is the latest available figure.

Mr. Younger

The number of vacancies notified to jobcentres in Scotland was 267,189 in 1979 and 259,777 in 1984., the latest year for which figures are available. The figures include vacancies notified under the community programme and the former special temporary employment programme.

Mr. MacKenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were registered as unemployed at June 1979; and how many were registered at the latest available date.

Mr. Younger

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my letter of 22 October 1984. The information requested is available in the House of Commons Library.

Mr. MacKenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in the coal mining industry in Scotland in 1979; and how this figure compares with the latest available figure.

Mr. Younger

The National Coal Board estimates its number of employees in deep-mined coal in March 1979 was 25,000 and in February 1985 was 14,900. Estimates for other employers in coal mining are not available for these dates.

Mr. MacKenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland were employed in the microelectronics industry in 1979; and how this compares with latest available figures.

Mr. Younger

The latest available estimate of employment in the Scottish electronics industry is 42,500 in mid-1983. This compares with estimates from the census of employment of 37,300 in 1978 and 38,300 in 1981. This growth in employment reflects growth in new and expanding electronics plants, along with the reclassification of certain plants from the electromechanical and other industries to electronics.

Mr. Norman Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in each of the Scottish new towns.

Mr. Allan Stewart

This information is not available. However, estimates by development corporations of the numbers of jobs created and jobs lost in industry are set out in the table:

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84
Glenrothes
Jobs created 914 706 758 956 1,178
Jobs lost 624 1,933 915 1,100 753
Irvine
Jobs created 1,208 224 439 882 900
Jobs lost 1,369 2,576 1,187 1,209 730
Livingston
Jobs created 930 607 601 911 1,670
Jobs lost 965 1,133 1,108 802 740

Mr. Norman Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many jobs in the high technology industries have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in Cumbernauld new town;

(2) how many jobs in the food industry have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in Cumbernauld new town;

(3) how many jobs in the construction industry have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in Cumbernauld new town;

(4) how many jobs in the clothing industry have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in Cumbernauld new town;

(5) how many jobs in the distribution industry have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in Cumbernauld new town;

(6) how many jobs in the engineering industry have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in Cumbernauld new town;

(7) how many jobs in the paper and board industry have been created; and how many have been lost in each year since May 1979 in Cumbernauld new town.

Mr. Allan Stewart

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. MacKenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people aged between 16 and 18 years of age were registered as unemployed at May 1979; and what is the latest available figure.

Mr. Younger

The analysis of unemployed persons by age and duration is undertaken quarterly in January, April, July and October. The information on the number of unemployed young persons aged 16 to 18 years at April 1979 and January 1985 is available in the House of Commons Library.

The figures are not directly comparable over the years, however, because of the change, in October 1982, from a registrant to a claimant based count.