HC Deb 03 February 1987 vol 109 c609W
50. Mr. Allen McKay

asked the Paymaster General what is the net loss in manufacturing jobs in Yorkshire and Humberside since June 1979.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Between June 1979 and June 1986, there was a net decrease of 248,000 employees in employment in manufacturing and industries in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

However, some of the decrease in the figures will be the result of the re-classification of jobs such as industrial cleaning, catering, computer services, and road haulage, previously done by manufactures' own employees and now done by sub-contractors. This developing feature of our economy has the effect of exaggerating the extent of the decline of manufacturing employment.