§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the annual average increase in manufacturing output between 1979 and 1986 compared with the decade to the end of 1973; and if he will provide comparable information available to him on figures for the United States, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France and Italy.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information is as follows:
Average annual increase in manufacturing output (Per cent.) 1963–73 1979–86 United Kingdom 3.4 -0.6 United States of America 5.5 2.1 Japan 12.3 3.5 Sweden 5.1 1.4 Norway 4.9 1.3 West Germany 5.1 1.1 France 6.2 -0.6 Italy 5.6 0.7 Source: OECD Main Economic Indicators.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what he ascribes the fall in the United Kingdom share of manufacturing output in the industrial countries since 1973; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing to one place of decimals the share of each of the main industrial countries in 1973 and 1986.
§ Mr. ButcherA country's share of world manufacturing output reflects a variety of influences. In the United Kingdom's case during the 1970s relevant factors included high inflation, overmanning, and low productivity. In the 1980s the performance of the United Kingdom's manufacturing industry relative to that of our main European competitiors has improved markedly, as evidence, for example, by the fact that the United Kingdom is now at the top of the productivity growth league for the major industrial countries. Figures for all industrial countries are not readily available and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.