asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the increase in level of investment in private manufacturing industry over each of the last 10 years in percentage terms; and if he will give a description of the definitions used.

No consistent series is available for the split between the public and private sectors of manufacturing industry. However, in the second column of the table the iron and steel industry, where the public sector is dominant, is excluded.Capital expenditure is the amount spent on the purchase of capital assets—net of disposals—and excludes assets acquired on lease. Manufacturing industry is defined as orders III to XIX of the "Standard Industrial Classification (1968)".