§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current size of the manufacturing sector; what were the figures for 1979; and if he will make a statement. [13820]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 14 February 1996]: In 1994, the latest year for which figures are available, the net ouptut of the manufacturing sector was worth £156.5 billion. Manufacturing output grew by 9.5 per cent. in volume between 1979 and 1994. Manufactured goods account for more than 80 per cent. of visible exports and have grown by almost 90 per cent. since 1979 while output per head has grown faster than in Japan, the United States of America, Germany and France.