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Manufacturing

Volume 701: debated on Tuesday 13 May 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the growth in manufacturing industry, by region, in each of the past 36 months for which figures are available. [HL3331]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Wade of Chorlton, dated May 2008.

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the growth in manufacturing industry, by region, in each of the past 36 months for which figures are available. (HL3331)

Measurement of growth in manufacturing industry at a regional level is only published by ONS on an annual basis. These statistics are available from ONS' Annual Business Inquiry. The latest regional results are for 2005; 2006 figures will be published in August 2008. The attached table shows gross value added for manufacturing by nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS1) regions for 2003, 2004, 2005 and the growth rates.

The ONS measure of growth is gross value added at basic prices. [Gross value added (GVA) represents the amount that individual businesses, industries or sectors contribute to the economy. Broadly, this is measured by the income generated by the business, industry or sector less their intermediate consumption of goods and services used up in order to produce their output.]

Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1992) Section Subsection Division Group

Description

Government Office Region

Year

Gross value added at basic prices (£ thousand)

Growth %

D

Manufacturing

North East

2003

5,931

2004

6,664

12.36

2005

6,391

-4.10

North West

2003

18,381

2004

19,385

5.46

2005

19,273

-0.58

Yorkshire and The Humber

2003

13,134

2004

13,996

6.56

2005

14,114

0.84

East Midlands

2003

13,114

2004

13,692

4.41

2005

13,177

-3.76

West Midlands

2003

14,684

2004

14,922

1.62

2005

14,494

-2.87

East of England

2003

12,815

2004

12,674

-1.10

2005

13,295

4.90

London

2003

12,002

2004

11,977

-0.21

2005

12,394

3.48

South East

2003

19,031

2004

18,896

-0.71

2005

18,669

-1.20

South West

2003

11,135

2004

11,727

5.32

2005

11,702

-0.21

England

2003

120,228

2004

123,932

3.08

2005

123,511

-0.34

Wales

2003

6,166

2004

7,109

15.29

2005

6,855

-3.57

Scotland

2003

11,334

2004

12,248

8.06

2005

11,357

-7.27

Great Britain

2003

137,728

2004

143,288

4.04

2005

141,723

-1.09

Northern Ireland

2003

3,919

2004

3,959

1.02

2005

4,121

4.09

United Kingdom

2003

141,647

2004

147,248

3.95

2005

145,844

-0.95

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What mechanisms are used to assess the strength of manufacturing industry in each (a) region and (b) local authority area. [HL3333]

The strength of manufacturing is assessed at a national level by using both official statistics and through representative organisations such as the CBI, Chambers of Commerce and the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF). Regular survey reports produced by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply, the Office for National Statistics, the EEF, the CBI and the Bank of England are also utilised.

At regional level, assessment is carried out by using informal discussions with business representative organisations such as the CBI, chambers of commerce and the EEF, as well as regular meetings with agents of the Bank of England. At local authority area level, survey data from chambers, the CBI and economic/labour market reports produced by local authorities or sub-regional partnerships are also utilised. RDAs meet regularly with businesses and officials from the local authorities.