§ Mr. Irvingasked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report the total numbers of persons available for work in (a) 1970, (b) 1979 and (c) 1983 and at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many persons were actually employed or self-employed in each case.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIt is estimated from the labour force survey that in the spring of 1984 there were 23,348,000 people living in private households in Great Britain who were in employment (employed or self-employed) or engaged in employment training schemes; the equivalent figures for 1979 and 1983 were 24,126,000 and 22,830,000. In 1984 there were a further 4,363,000 who said they would be available to start work within two weeks. Corresponding estimates are not available from earlier surveys.