§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade under which Labour Government since 1965 jobs in manufacturing fell at the rate of 700,000 a year, as indicated in his oral answer of 1 November to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-east (Mr. Purchase)Official Report column 297; and what information he has on the number of jobs in manufacturing in each year since 1965. [1617]
§ Mr. OppenheimManufacturing employment under the last labour Government fell by 680,000. That is a rate of 136,000 a year.
Manufacturing output also declined by 0.5 per cent. a year for 1974 to 1979. Since 1979 it has increased by 0.7 per cent. a year.