§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of Slate for Trade and Industry if he will give an estimate of the number of people employed in the United Kingdom clothing manufacturing industry in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement concerning Government policy towards that industry.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 26 November 1990]: The Department of Employment estimates that the number of employees in the clothing manufacturing industry in Great Britain in each year since 1979 was as follows:
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Clothing manufacturing industry Great Britain Group 453 and 456 (SIC 80) June Thousands 1979 290.2 1980 261.8 1981 224.1 1982 214.3 1983 207.0 1984 212.2 1985 213.0
June Thousands 1986 210.7 1987 205.0 1988 205.2 1989 199.0 1990 197.3 Notes:
1. Group 453 (SIC80) consists of those industries involved in the manufacture of clothing, hats and gloves. Group 456 (SIC80) consists of those involved in the manufacture of fur goods.
2. Similar estimates are not available for Northern Ireland or for people other than employees in employment.
3. Estimates at this level of industrial detail are subject to substantial estimation error.
Government policy towards the clothing industry, as for industry as a whole, is to set a framework for free and fair competition and the encouragement of enterprise. A range of Government schemes for encouraging enterprise and spreading best practice is available to companies in the industry.