§ 28. Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make statement on the future of the motor car industry in the United Kingdom. [139560]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe UK motor industry continues to have good prospects, with new production lines coming on stream in 2001. 1999 car production was the highest since 1972; sales were the fourth highest on record and UK exports were the highest ever. Since 1997, some 9,600 new jobs have been announced with over £3 billion of new investment.