HL Deb 28 March 1985 vol 461 cc1274-5WA
Lord McCarthy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people in each of the following categories were employed in the public sector in June of each year from 1963 to the most recent year for which figures are available, and what percentage change each figure represents against the corresponding figure for the previous year:

  1. (a) central government;
  2. (b) armed forces, including women's services;
  3. (c) civilians;
  4. (d) local authorities; and
  5. (e) public corporations.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie)

Data from 1961 are shown inEconomic Trends Annual Supplement 1985 edition (table 201). Figures for the most recent two years are shown below (with percentage change on previous years in brackets):

UK PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
Thousands (headcount)
HM Forces National Health Service and other central government Total central government Local authorities Public corporations
1983 322 (-0.6) 2,040 (-0.3) 2,362 (-0.4) 2,879 (0.5) 1,663 (-5.3)(2)
1984(1) 326 (1.2) 2,009 (-1.5) 2,335 (-1.1) 2,884 (0.2) 1,611 (-3.1)

Notes:

(1) 1984 estimates are preliminary.

(2) Britoil was reclassified to the private sector in October 1982 and Associated British Ports in February 1983, reducing public corporations employment by about 14,000.