§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the state of the food, drinks and confectionery industry in(a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde.
§ Mr. StewartThe most recent Annual census of production data show gross value added (GVA) in the food, drink and tobacco industry in Scotland in 1990 was 70 per cent. higher than in 1980. GVA in the industry in Strathclyde rose by over 40 per cent. between 1983 and 1990.
The industry has of course been restructuring, but it remains a major employer. The last census of employment (September 1991) showed that there were 66,400 employees in the food, drink and tobacco industry in Scotland; around 25,600 were in Strathclyde.
I note that independent forecasters, whose projections are monitored regularly by the Scottish Office Industry Department, suggest that further output growth may, in general, be anticipated in the industry in the next few years.