HC Deb 04 February 2000 vol 343 cc768-9W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the annual growth or decline of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry in each of the last 10 years. [108691]

Dr. Howells

The information for the last 10 years is available in the following table:

Manufacture of textiles and textile products
Year Index of production 1995 = 100 Year-on-year percentage change
1989 112.9 -2.8
1990 111.8 -1.0
1991 101.0 0.9
1993 101.3 -0.6
1994 103.6 2.3

Manufacture of textiles and textile products
Year Index of production 1995 = 100 Year-on-year percentage change
1995 100.0 -3.5
1996 99.6 -0.4
1997 96.4 -3.2
1998 89.1 -7.6

Note:

Comprises Standard Industrial Classification Subsection DB—Manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; dressing and dyeing of fur.

Source:

Office for National Statistics: Monthly Digest of Statistics, table 7.1.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the public sector supports the United Kingdom clothing and textile industry and to make such support easily accessible; [108658]

(2) what assistance his Department gives to aid the development of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry. [108663]

Mr. Alan Johnson

DTI provides a wide range of support to the UK's textile and clothing industry. The Department's Textile, Clothing and Footwear Unit is currently funding about 25 individual projects addressing aspects of the industry's competitiveness covering areas such as supply chain development, education and training, technical innovation, design and marketing.

Other public bodies provide support for the industry in areas such as assistance for capital investment, vocational training, export promotion and research and development.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect of Government policies on the long-term performance and profitability of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [108662]

Mr. Alan Johnson

The Government's first priority on coming to office was to secure long-term economic stability and put an end to the damaging cycle of boom and bust. The Government understand the concerns of businesses, including the textile and clothing sectors trading with Europe, about the pound. But short-term fixes would be the biggest threat of all to industry, creating the illusion of temporary relief followed by the reality of long-term damage.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the output was of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry as a proportion of gross domestic product during 1998–99. [108657]

Mr. Alan Johnson

Value added of the UK textile and clothing industry represented 0.9 per cent. of Gross Domestic Product in 1998, the latest whole year for which data are available.

Note:

Comprises Standard Industrial Classification Subsection DB—Manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; dressing and dyeing of fur.

Source:

Office for National Statistics—derived from United Kingdom National Accounts 1999 ("The Blue Book"), Table 2.3.