§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on manufacturing industry in the Greater London area. [25905]
§ Alan JohnsonManufacturing, which accounts for over 10 per cent. of GDP and nearly 300,000 jobs, remains an important part of London's economy. More people work in manufacturing in London than in Birmingham, Manchester or Sheffield. Figures based on the Office for National Statistics figures for 1998, which are the latest available, show performance of manufacturing industry in London, on a gross value added per employee basis, is 123.2 per cent. of the UK average. Manufacturing labour productivity in London is now the highest of the English regions.
As part of DTI's plans to establish a nationwide Manufacturing Advisory Service, the London Development Agency is taking forward plans to establish a Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence (RCME). The RCME will make available sources of practical help on all manufacturing related expertise and support issues, and act as the focal point for the regional delivery of support services to SME manufacturers.