Geography Changing UK Economy Mar 2019

Question 1

Why has the economy of the UK changed?

Answer 1

The UK has been experiencing de-industrialisation. The decline in the secondary industry has increased growth in tertiary and quaternary employment.

Question 2

What are the causes for the change in economy in the UK?

Answer 2

• Machines and technology have replaced people in modern industries (e.g. car manufacture).
• Other countries can produce cheaper goods due to cheaper labour (e.g. China, Malaysia and Indonesia)
• A lack of investment, high labour costs and outdated machinery made UK products too expensive.

Question 3

What is globalisation?

Answer 3

Globalisation is the growth and spread of ideas around the world. This can involve the movement or spread of cultures, people, money, goods and information.

Question 4

What is post-industrial economy?

Answer 4

An economy where the manufacturing industry declines and the tertiary and quaternary sectors grow. In the UK this started in the 1970s with 75% of people working in tertiary jobs and 10% in quaternary by 2015..

Question 5

What are science and business parks?

Answer 5

Science Park = A group of scientific and technical knowledge based businesses located at a single site.

Business Park = An area of land occupied by a cluster of businesses.

Question 6

Where are science and business parks usually located?

Answer 6

Science Park = Near universities for a source of graduate employees.

Business Park = Edge of towns due to cheaper land that can be extended.

Question 7

What are the impacts industry have on the environment?

Answer 7

• Manufacturing plants look dull and can have a negative visual affect on the landscape.
• Industrial processes cause air and water pollution as well as dredging soil.
• Waste products are taken to landfill sites which can cause air, water and soil pollution.
• Transporting of raw materials is usually by road causing air pollution. As well as this, the building of new roads can damage the environment.

Question 8

How can industrial development be made more sustainable?

Answer 8

• Technology can be used to reduce emissions.
• Desulphurisation can remove harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide from chimneys.
• Stricter environmental targets can be made for water quality, air pollution and landscape damage.
• Heavy fines imposed for industrial pollution incidents.

Question 9

How is the UK’s rural landscape changing?

Answer 9

Some areas of the UK are experiencing rapid population growth like in South Cambridgeshire however more remote rural areas are suffering from population decline like the Outer Hebrides.

Question 10

What is the North-South divide? Why does it exist?

Answer 10

The North-South divide is about the cultural and economic differences between the south of England and the rest of the UK. It exist due to heavy industries in the north declining and a fast-growing service sector in the south.

Question 11

What are the road improvements for 2020?

Answer 11

There are 100 new road schemes:

• 1300 new lane miles will be added to motorways and trunk roads to tackle congestion.
• Extra lanes will be added to motorways to turn them into ‘smart motorways’.
• Links between London, Birmingham and the north will also be improved.

Question 12

What are the rail improvements for 2020?

Answer 12

• The electrification of the Trans-Pennine Express Railway between Manchester and York reducing journey times and completing the electrified link between Liverpool and Newcastle.
• Electrification of the Midland mainline between London and Sheffield (by 2023).
• HS2 (High Speed 2) - A 50 billion pound plan to connect London with Birmingham, and then Sheffield Leeds and Manchester. It may also extend to Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Question 13

How have the UK’s ports been developed?

Answer 13

• The leading port in terms of tonnage is Grimsby, followed by Tilbury (London), then Milford Haven and Southampton.
• Dover was the main port for freight (Lorries, cars etc).
• Felixstowe was the UK’s largest container port, handling 2 million containers.

Question 14

How have the UK’s airports developed?

Answer 14

• The aviation sector accounts for 3.6% of the UK’s GDP and employs over 300,000 people
• Over 2 million tonnes of freight pass through UK airports a year.
• More than 750,000 international flights depart from the UK annually, to almost 400 airports in 114 different countries.
• Over 420,000 domestic flights provide 35 million seats annually to passengers travelling to over 60 regional airports across the UK.