§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in employment in United Kingdom manufacturing in absolute and percentage terms since the United Kingdom joined the EC; and what is the corresponding figure for other industrial countries.
§ Miss WiddecombeComparable information for all G7 countries is only available for the production and construction industries combined, of which manufacturing is the largest component. Changes since June 1973 are shown in the following table. The shift from manufacturing towards services is a trend shared by all western industrial nations. Nonetheless, the output of United Kingdom manufacturing industry increased by 1.5 per cent. between 1973 and 1993. This reflects a substantial improvement in productivity, up by 77.4 per cent. over the same period.
Changes in civilian employment in production and construction industries in the major 7 nations (G7) between June 1973 and September 19931 (Thousands) Absolute Change Percentage Change Canada +204 +8 United States of America +1,071 +4 Japan +2,797 +14 France -2,675 -32 West Germany -2,005 -16 Italy -715 -10 United Kingdom2 -4,121 -39 Source: OECD, except United Kingdom (Employment Department).
1 Latest available data.
2 Figures exclude participants in work related Government training programmes (for which separate industry estimates are not available).