§ 7. Mr. Moyleasked the Minister of Social Security what are the numbers of self-employed shop assistants at present compared with the numbers at some convenient date in 1965.
§ Mr. PentlandI regret that this information is not available, but shop assistants working more than eight hours a week would not normally be classified as self-employed for insurance purposes.
§ Mr. MoyleWill my hon. Friend take steps to make sure that this information becomes available? I have been led to believe that the number of self-employed shop assistants is increasing, and such persons do not qualify for unemployment benefit or industrial injury benefit.
§ Mr. PentlandWe have no information on that point, but if my hon. Friend can provide specific instances where hardship is involved we shall be glad to look into them.
§ Mr. BiffenAlthough the hon. Gentleman may not have any information available, the development of self-employment in the service trades was widely forecast by hon. Members on this side of the House at this time last year. Cannot the hon. Gentleman have a sample survey made to see what grounds the hon. Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) has for asking this Question.
§ Mr. PentlandA sample survey is currently being undertaken, but analysis of National Insurance cards exchanged in the summer months shows a diminishing number of self-employed persons in the distributive trades in recent years. This is probably associated with the growth of self-service firms.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanCan the Minister give us any information as to the scope of the survey and when we are likely to see any result from it.
§ Mr. PentlandNot at the moment.