§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom and other G7 countries during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
§ Mr. LilleyI have been asked to reply.
In the 1960s Britain had the slowest rate of growth in manufacturing productivity of any of the major seven industrial countries. In the 1970s we again had the slowest rate of growth of manufacturing productivity of any of those countries. In the 1980s we have had the fastest rate of growth of manufacturing productivity of any of those countries.
Growth in manufacturing productivity Annual average percentage change 1960–70 1970–80 1980–89 United Kingdom 3.1 1.6 5.1 United States of America 3.5 3.0 4.1 Japan 8.8 5.3 3.3 Germany 4.1 2.9 2.3 France 4.5 3.2 3.2 Italy 6.2 2.5 3.1 Canada 3.4 3.0 3.2 Group of 7 4.4 3.2 3.6 Source: Her Majesty's Treasury.