§ 6. Mr. Hollandasked the Minister of Labour what has been the change in the numbers employed in the manufacturing industries and in the service industries, between April, 1966, and April, 1967,respectively.
§ Mr. HattersleyFrom monthly surveys covering a sample of employers it is provisionally estimated that between April,1966,and April, 1967, the number of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Great Britain fell by310,000. The monthly surveys do not cover all service industries and the only reliable estimates for these industries are for June each year. Estimates for June,1967.will become available early in 1968.
§ Mr. HollandIs not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Selective Employment Tax is failing abysmally in its primary objective of moving people from service industries into manufacturing industries? In these circumstances, will he asked his right hon. Friend to make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to get rid of this iniquitous and futile tax?
§ Mr. HattersleyThe primary objective of the Selective Employment Tax was to have the tax burden shared more equally between all forms of industry. The secondary objective—the redistribution of employment—can be judged only when the tax has had a longer time to operate.