HC Deb 06 July 1989 vol 156 cc221-3W
21. Mr. Charles Wardle

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of growth of manufacturing output over the last two years.

56. Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the annual rate of growth of manufacturing output over the last two years.

Mr. Major

In the two years ending in the three months to April, manufacturing output grew at an average annual rate of 6.2 per cent.

166. Sir David Price

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom since 1979 and in the previous two decades.

Mr. Major

Between 1979 and the three months to April 1989, output per head in United Kingdom manufacturing industry grew at an annual average growth rate of 4.2 per cent, significantly higher than the 1.6 per cent. growth achieved in the 1970s and 3 per cent. growth in the 1960s.

118. Mr. Cryer

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of the current level of interest rates on manufacturing firms employing less than 200 employees.

Mr. Lilley

Inflation is the greatest threat to the prosperity of all manufacturing firms. They will therefore benefit greatly from the Government's determination to keep interest rates as high as necessary for as long as necessary as part of its firm anti-inflationary policy.

112. Mrs. Peacock

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest projections for the growth of manufacturing investment in 1989.

191. Mr. Moss

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest projections for the growth of manufacturing investment in 1989.

Mr. Major

The latest DTI investment intentions survey published in June projected manufacturing investment in constant prices to rise by 15 per cent. in 1989 on a year earlier. The latest CBI quarterly trends survey published in April confirms this buoyant outlook.

37. Dr. Goodson-Wickes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of growth of manufacturing output over the last two years.

49. Mr. John Browne

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom since 1980; and what were the comparable figures in the other major industrial countries.

95. Mr. Robert B. Hughes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom since 1980; and what were the comparable figures in the other major industrial countries.

120. Dr. Twinn

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom since 1980; and what were the comparable figures in the other major industrial countries.

Mr. Major

Comparable figures for manufacturing productivity growth in the major industrialised countries are available only up to the fourth quarter of 1988. Manufacturing productivity, as measured by output per person employed, was 51 per cent. higher in the United Kingdom in 1988 than in 1980. Over the same period in the United States productivity increased by 37 per cent., in Japan by 28 per cent., in Germany by 19 per cent., in France by 27 per cent., in Italy by 35 per cent. and in Canada by 33 per cent.

123. Mr. Hunter

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the growth of manufacturing productivity since 1980.

196. Mr. Stevens

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the growth of manufacturing productivity since 1980.

Mr. Major

Output per head in United Kingdom manufacturing in the three months up to April 1989 was 55 per cent. higher than its average level in 1980, an average annual growth rate of 5.2 per cent.