HC Deb 21 January 1987 vol 108 cc567-8W
Mr. Parry

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the number of job losses in the United Kingdom tobacco industry by regions since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

The precise information requested is not available. However, estimates related to the tobacco industry in Great Britain showed a net loss of 15,000 employees in employment between September 1979 and September 1986, the latest date for which figures are available.

The available regional employment estimates for the industry are from censuses of employment taken in September 1981 and September 1984. Between these dates, there was a net loss of 2,200 employees employed in the tobacco industry in the south-east region and no reduction in the northern region. Figures for other regions cannot be given without disclosing confidential information about individual concerns; the 1984 census estimates for Northern Ireland are not yet available. The reduction between the two census dates in the total number employed in the industry in Great Britain was 6,800.

Mr. Parry

asked the Paymaster General how many persons were employed in the tobacco industry in the United Kingdom at the latest date; and what were the figures in 1979.

Mr. Lee

The estimated number of employees in employment in the tobacco industry in Great Britain are as follows:

Date Employees in Employment (thousands)
June 1979 31.0
June 1986 17.3
September 1986 16.5

These estimates are subject to considerable potential estimation error due to the relatively small number of employees in the industry. Comparison between the figures for June and September could be affected by seasonal factors. Estimates are not available for Northern Ireland.