§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table, using 1979 at a value of 100, of investment in real terms in manufacturing in the north west for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaudeNo regional breakdown of manufacturing investment for 1987 and 1988 is yet available. The required information for the period 1979–86 is shown in the following table:
Manufacturing investment in the North West, in constant (1980) prices, as a percentage of the 1979 level Year Per cent. 1979 100 1980 89 1981 63 1982 58 1983 61 1984 68 1985 72 1986 62 Source: Annual Census of Production.
Since 1986, manufacturing investment in the country as a whole has risen sharply; and is predicted to rise even faster.