§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed in the steel industry in general and in the special steel industry in particular in the years 1975, 1980 and in each year since 1983.
§ Mr. Giles ShawEmployment figures on the broad definition of the steel industry, which includes SIC groups612W 221 (iron and steel industry), 222 (steel tubes) and 223 (drawing, cold rolling and cold forming of steel), are available up to 1985 from the annual census of production (ACOP) and are as follows:
Employment Thousands 11975 310 1980 217 1983 127 1984 115 1985 114 1 estimate. The Department of Employment's estimates of employees in employment indicates that employment in the industry fell between 5 and 10 per cent. between 1985 and 1986. However, these estimates are subject to a considerable potential estimating error due to the relatively small numbers of employees in the industry.
No estimates are available for employment in the production of special steels. Whilst special steels, including stainless and heat-resisting steels, accounted for around 2 per cent. of total crude steel production in 1986, they will have accounted for a higher proportion of employment as their production is more labour intensive.