HC Deb 18 April 1989 vol 151 c144W
75. Mr. Neil Hamilton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in productivity for the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

Productivity in manufacturing, as measured by output per person employed, was 6.5 per cent. greater in the three months ending February 1989 than in the corresponding period ending February 1988. This compares favourably with the average of 4.2 per cent. a year recorded for the period 1979 to 1988. Since 1980 growth in United Kingdom manufacturing productivity has exceeded that of the other major industrialised countries.

Productivity for the economy as a whole was 0.5 per cent. higher in the fourth quarter of 1988 than it was in the fourth quarter of 1987. However the 1988 figure was adversely affected by the Piper Alpha disaster and other oil industry interruptions.