§ 44. Mr. Terry Lewisasked the Paymaster General what was the net loss or gain of manufacturing jobs in Britain and the north-west region respectively in 1986.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeBetween December 1985 and December 1986 there was a net decrease of 123,000 in the number of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Great Britain. In the same period there was a comparable decrease of 17,000 in the north-west region.
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 manufacturer's own employees and now done by sub-contractors. This developing feature of our economy has the effect of exaggerating the extent of the move from manufacturing to service sector employment.
Between December 1985 and December 1986 there was a net increase of 7,000 in the number of self employed in manufacturing industries in Great Britain. Comparable regional figures are not available.