HC Deb 25 June 1986 vol 100 cc172-4W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what has been the percentage change in English steel production since 1979;

(2) what has been the percentage change in Welsh steel production since 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following is the information for the percentage change in steel production between 1979 and 1985 for England and Wales.

Steel industry in England and Wales: Percentage change in steel production between 1979 and 1985
Per cent.
England -30.2
Wales -31.9

Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many persons work in the steel industry in England at the present; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979;

(2) how many persons work in the steel industry in Wales at the present time; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following is the information for the total labour force employed in ECSC activities in the steel industry for the years 1979 to 1986 (end March), in England and Wales.

Steel industry in England and Wales: Total labour force employed in ECSC activities*
Thousands (at year end)
England Wales
1979 91.7 51.8
1980 69.5 32.2
1981 53.8 24.9
1982 44.1 23.0
1983 36.5 21.2
1984 34.9 21.1
1985 32.9 20.6
†1986 32.2 20.6
* The figures supplied relate to employment in ECSC activities, compiled by the Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau, and are published in Eurostat for the United Kingdom as a whole.
† End March.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was (a) the total output of steel and (b) the output of various categories of steel from the plants in England in the last year for which figures are available and for each year since 1979;

(2) what was (a) the total output of steel and (b) the output of various categories of steel from plants in Wales in the last year for which figures are available, and for each year since 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following is the information on(a) crude steel production for the years 1979 to 1985 and (b) output of steel by category for the years 1979 to 1984, in England and Wales.

Steel Industry in England and Wales
(a) Crude Steel production
million tonnes
England Wales
1979 12.9 6.9
1980* 7.0 3.0

England Wales
1981 9.2 4.4
1982 7.9 4.1
1983 8.3 4.9
1984 8.2 5.0
1985 9.0 4.7
* Affected by BSC strike

Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau

Steel Industry in England and Wales
(b) Output of Steel by category
million tonnes
England Wales
Long* products Flat† products Long* products Flat† products
1979 6.3 2.4 0.6 4.0
1980 4.2 1.2 0.4 1.8
1981 4.9 1.3 0.5 2.8
1982 4.2 1.2 0.5 2.8
1983 4.2 1.1 0.6 2.9
1984 4.2 1.1 0.7 3.1
* Long products, for example bars, rods and sections.
† Flat products, for example wide coil, sheets, plates and hot rolled narrow strip.

Source: European Coal and Steel Community; Investment in the Community Coalmining and Iron and Steel Industries.

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