HC Deb 28 July 1989 vol 157 cc1040-2W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the numbers employed in manufacturing in the United Kingdom, United States of America, West Germany, France, Italy and Japan in 1959, 1968, 1979 and at the latest available date.

Mr. Eggar

The earliest year for which information is available for all the countries except Italy, is 1963. The information is shown in the table.

Manufacturing employment
(thousands)
1963 1968 1979 1987
United Kingdom 8,423 8,353 7,935 5,415
Germany 9,912 9,639 8,793 8,122
France 5,341 5,294 5,556 4,629
Italy 5,371 4,639
Japan 11,080 13,050 13,330 14,250
United States 18,025 20,856 22,458 20,935

Source: ED for United Kingdom and OECD for other countries.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the increase in civil employment in (a) 1959 to 1973, (b) 1973 to 1979, and (c) 1979 to date in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) West Germany, (iii) France, (iv) Italy, (v) Japan, and (vi) the United States of America.

Mr. Eggar

The figures are shown in the table.

Mr. Nicholls

Data for each of the groups requested, on a comparable basis, is available only from the labour force survey (LFS). A preliminary estimate from the spring 1988 LFS of the number of unemployed (ILO/OECD definition) aged 16 or over in Great Britain, who left their last job 12 months or more prior to interview, is 1,191,000.

Other preliminary estimates, as requested, are shown in the following table:

Unemployed1 whose last job was in the manufacturing industries2—Great Britain
Spring 1988, Thousands
Age All persons Males Females
(i) 16 or over 351 218 133
full-time3 309 207 102
part-time3 42 11 31
(ii) 18 or over 335 207 128
full-time3 294 197 97
part-time3 41 10 31
1 ILO/OECD definition.
2 SIC 1980, Industry Divisions 2–4. Persons who left their last job three or more years prior to interview are not asked about their previous industry.
3 Based on respondent's own assessment, not on the number of hours usually worked.

Source: 1988 LFS, preliminary estimates.

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide full details of the number of people who are receiving unemployment benefit for part of a week who are also working part-time(a) at the latest available date, (b) over the last 12 months and (c) in the preceding two years.

Mr. Eggar

This information is not available.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people employed in(a) the textile industry and (b) the clothing industry for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

The available information is as follows:

Employees in Employment (unadjusted for seasonal variation)
Great Britain
June each year1 2 Textile industry (class 43) 2 Footwear and clothing industry (class 45)
1979 371,000 395,000
1980 325,000 361,000
1981 273,000 314,000
1982 256,000 295,000
1983 239,000 286,000
1984 234,000 292,000
1985 233,000 295,000
1986 234,000 296,000
1987 223,000 293,000
1988 223,000 295,000
1989 (May) 204,000 280,000
1 Except 1989 where May figures have been given as June figures are not yet available.
2 Standard Industrial Classification 1980.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people employed in the machine tool manufacturing industry for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

The available information is as follows:

Employees in employment (unadjusted for seasonal variation)
Great Britain
Metal-working machine tools and engineers tools (Group 322)2
June each year1 Numbers
1979 111,000
1980 110,000
1981 96,000

June each year1 Numbers
1982 90,000
1983 75,000
1984 75,000
1985 78,000
1986 78,000
1987 75,000
1988 77,000
May 89 78,000
1 Except 1989 where May figures have been given as June figures are not yet available.
2 Standard Industrial Classification 1980.