§ Mr. Andrew MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the increase in the number of self-employed since June 1987; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. LeeBetween June 1987 and September 1988, the latest date for which estimates are available, there was a net increase of 156,000 in the estimated number of self-employed people in Great Britain. It is estimated that nearly 3 million people are now self-employed and the number is still rising. The numbers of self-employed people have risen by over 60 per cent. since 1979 and they now represent almost one in nine of the work force in employment.