§ 38. Miss Boothroydasked the Paymaster General what is the net loss in manufacturing jobs in the west midlands region since 1979.
§ 79. Mr. Parkasked the Paymaster General what has been the net loss in manufacturing jobs in the west midlands since June 1979.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeBetween June 1979 and June 1986, there was a net decrease of 282,000 employees in employment in manufacturing industries in the west midlands 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 manufacturers' own employees and now done by subcontractors. This developing feature of our economy has the effect of exaggerating the extent of the decline of manufacturing employment.