HC Deb 10 December 1970 vol 808 c150W
31. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are currently gainfully employed; and what percentage of this total are members of trade unions.

Mr. Dudley Smith

At 31st December, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, the total membership in the United Kingdom of trade unions with headquarters in the United Kingdom was about 10,242,000. The estimated number of employees, employed and unemployed, in December, 1969, was about 23,609,000. The percentage of employees who were members of trade unions was, therefore, about 43 per cent.