§ 36. Mr. Richard Pageasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest productivity figures of British manufacturing industry.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIn 1986, Q4 productivity (output per head) in manufacturing industry reached a level of 136, based on 1980 equal to 100. Since 1979, productivity in the United Kingdom has grown at an annual average rate of more than 3½per cent., the fastest rate of growth of all major industrialised countries.
§ 70. Mr. Evansasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest available figure for the percentage fall in the real value of manufacturing investment in the north-west since 1979.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWhen the world recession hit a sector suffering from poor competitiveness—the result of years of high inflation, low productivity growth and poor rates of return on investment—a sharp fall in manufacturing investment in the regions occurred up to 1983. In real terms, manufacturing investment in the North West between 1979 and 1984 fell by 31 per cent. Industry is now more competitive and better adapted to the demands of a modern economy — manufacturing investment in the North West over the most recent year for which there is data, 1983–84, grew by 12 per cent. in real terms.