UK Economy

Question 1

Why did UK manufacturing decline?

Answer 1

Cheaper overseas competition (Asia), mechanisation, rising labour costs. Fell from 40% (1970) to <10% (2010) of employment.

Question 2

How has globalisation affected the UK?

Answer 2

TNCs like Nissan (Sunderland) operate here; jobs outsourced (e.g., call centres to India).

Question 3

Key UK government policies since 1945?

Answer 3

• 1945–1979: Nationalisation (coal, railways).<br></br>- 1979–2010: Thatcher privatisation (BT, British Gas).<br></br>- 2010+: Northern Powerhouse, green energy.

Question 4

What is a post-industrial economy?

Answer 4

Shift to services (80% jobs) and quaternary sector (IT, research).

Question 5

Case Study: Cambridge IT hub

Answer 5

1.3M IT jobs; e.g., cybersecurity, app development. British Antarctic Survey (£30B/year research).

Question 6

Case Study: Southampton Science Park

Answer 6

Hosts Fibercore, Symetrica; near M3/University of Southampton. Offers labs/business support.

Question 7

Case Study: Cobalt Business Park (Newcastle)

Answer 7

UK’s largest; hosts P&G, Siemens; low rent, skilled workforce, near A1/airport.

Question 8

Negative industrial impacts?

Answer 8

Pollution (air/land), deforestation, quarry scars (e.g., Tor Quarry – now sustainable).

Question 9

Case Study: Tor Quarry sustainability

Answer 9

5M tonnes limestone/year; rail freight, wildlife habitats, water recycling.

Question 10

Rural growth: South Cambridgeshire

Answer 10

Commuter belt for Cambridge; villages like Cambourne grow due to jobs/schools. Challenges: House prices, traffic.

Question 11

Rural decline: Outer Hebrides

Answer 11

Remote islands; youth leave for mainland jobs. Challenges: Poor transport, few jobs.

Question 12

Case Study: A303 ‘Super Highway’

Answer 12

£2B upgrade (Stonehenge tunnel); cuts congestion to Devon/Cornwall.

Question 13

Case Study: Crossrail (Elizabeth Line)

Answer 13

Links Reading-Heathrow-London-Essex; +10% capacity, £42B economic boost.

Question 14

Case Study: Liverpool2 port

Answer 14

£400M terminal; handles mega-ships, boosts northern trade.

Question 15

Heathrow expansion pros/cons?

Answer 15

• Pros: 70,000 jobs, 700K flights/year.<br></br>- Cons: Noise, pollution, village destruction.

Question 16

Causes of the North-South divide?

Answer 16

Deindustrialisation (e.g., Sheffield), London/EU proximity, uneven investment.

Question 17

Strategies to reduce the divide?

Answer 17

HS2, Northern Powerhouse, Enterprise Zones (tax breaks), local transport funding.

Question 18

UK’s global trade role?

Answer 18

5th largest economy; exports cars, pharmaceuticals, finance.

Question 19

Brexit impacts?

Answer 19

Lost EU trade deals/mobility; now negotiates own (e.g., Australia, Japan).

Question 20

Commonwealth links?

Answer 20

56 nations; shared trade/democracy (e.g., Commonwealth Games).