HC Deb 28 November 1994 vol 250 cc490-1W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which EC member states increased steel production between 1988 and 1992; and by how much production and employment fell in the United Kingdom steel industry during this period.

Mr. Eggar

Crude steel production in Italy and Spain increased by 4.5 per cent. and 3 per cent. respectively between 1988 and 1992. In the United Kingdom steel industry production fell by 14.5 per cent. and employment fell by 26 per cent. over the same period.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the numbers employed in the steel industries of EC member states in 1975, 1981, 1987 and 1993 with the percentage change in the numbers employed since 1975.

Mr. Eggar

The information requested is in the table.

Employment in the steel industry of EC member states
percentage change
1975 1981 1987 1993 1975–1993
Country thousands
Germany 222.0 187.0 133.3 110.3 -;50.3
Italy 96.0 96.0 60.7 49.3 -48.6
France 156.0 97.0 57.6 40.5 -74.0
United Kingdom 185.3 88.0 54.9 39.2 -78.8
Spain b b 44.8 27.3 b
Belgium 59.0 45.0 28.6 24.0 -59.3
Netherlands 25.0 21.0 18.5 13.5 -46.0
Luxembourg 21.0 14.0 11.4 7.1 -66.2
Portugal b b 5.7 3.1 b
Greece a a 4.0 2.9 a
Denmark 3.0 2.0 1.5 1.1 -63.3
Ireland 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.6 -40.0

Source:

Eurostat.

Notes:

a) EC member from 1/1/82.

b) EC member from 1/1/87.

Employment figures are as at end of year.

Steel industry as defined under treaty of Paris, 1951.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to assist the British steel industry in view of the nature of the support by other member states and of their industries; and if he will make a statement on the enforcement of articles 4 and 95 of the treaty.

Mr. Eggar

The best way in which the Government can assist the industry is to work for an international market in which the highly efficient United Kingdom steel industry can trade freely and without unfair competition. The Government will continue to press the Commission to enforce the state aid rules rigorously and to take action against any breaches.