National Production

Population

With 57 million people, the United Kingdom ranks about fifteenth in the world in terms of population, with England (46 million) by far the most populous part (followed by Scotland 5 million, Wales 2.8 million and Northern Ireland 1.5 million). Although there are about 6% more male than female births, the higher mortality of men at all ages means that there are more females than males (29 million as against 27.6 million).

The average population density in Britain is about 239 per sq. km, compared with, for example, 190 per sq. km in Italy. The highest densities are to be found in conurbations, which are groups of once separate towns that have grown to form a single community. Although Britain is short of housing, planners like to keep a belt of undeveloped land around cities known as a green belt to reduce pollution and provide open spaces for leisure. The industrial area in these purpose-built towns is separate from housing and there are more green, open spaces. New towns have partially failed, however, especially since many are near enough to conurbations for people to use them as dormitory towns (towns where a large percentage of the population commutes daily to work in a conurbation) and recent government policy has been to expand existing towns like Telford and Milton Keynes (formed from the amalgamation of a group of villages), which is cheaper than creation an entirely new town.

Membership of the European Community has had a major impact on Britain’s pattern of trade. The proportion of Britain’s export of goods going to other EC countries has risen to around 50%, while that going to other Commonwealth countries has fallen to around 10%. In recent years, Britain has had a negative balance of trade as regards visible exports and imports, though the balance as regards invisible is better.

Among the main trends in industrial activity in Britain during the 1970s and 1980s have been the decline in heavy industry and the growth of the offshore oil and gas industries together with related products and services; the rapid development of electronic and microelectronic technologies and their application to a wide range of other sectors; and a continuous rise in the service (or tertiary) industries’ share of total employment. Tourism, for example, is now one of Britain’s most important industries and a growing source of employment (supporting an estimated 1 million jobs in 1985).

In certain regions, older industries, such as coal, steel, shipbuilding and textiles, have steadily declined. As a result unemployment is far higher in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the north of England. The Government has therefore provided various incentives to encourage industrial development in “assisted areas”.

In addition to these structural changes there have also been important changes in ownership. The Thatcher Government returned many of the nationalised industries, such as British Airways, British Gas and British Telecom, to the private sector, although other industries in the same sectors, such as British Rail, British Coal and the Post Office, are still publicly owned. There has also been a growing trend towards the formation of massive international corporations through merges and acquisitions.

Less than 3% of the working population (around 690,000 people) is employed in agriculture in Britain, yet the industry produces nearly two-thirds of Britain’s food requirements, with gross output accounting for about 4% of the country’s GDP. Just over three-quarters of the land in Britain is used for agriculture. About three-fifths of full-time farms are devoted to dairying or beef cattle and sheep. The majority of sheep and cattle are reared in the hill and moorland areas of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and south-western England. The farms devoted primarily to arable crops are found mainly in eastern and central southern England. Pig production occurs in most areas, but particularly important in eastern and northern England. Britain is also broadly self-sufficient in poultry meat and eggs.

Britain is one of Europe’s most important fishing nations. The fishing industry provides about 66% of British fish supplies and it is an important source of employment (16,150 fishermen in regular employment) and income in a number of ports.

Woodland covers an estimated 2.1 million hectares in Great Britain, but the rate of new planting – especially by private owners – is growing and home timber production is expected to double over the next 20 years (at present it provides only 10% of the nation’s requirements).

Дата добавления: 2015-01-03