Self-employment

HC Deb 16 May 1989 vol 153 cc158-60W

17. Mr. Ashby

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently self-employed in the east midlands.

Mr. Cope

In December 1988 there were 205,000 self-employed people in the east midlands, an increase of 27,000 over the previous two years.

43. Mr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently self-employed in the south-west.

Mr. Lee

In December 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, there were an estimated 302,000 self-employed in the south-west region. This represents an increase of 35,000 or 13 per cent. since December 1986.

39. Dr. Goodson-Wickes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were self-employed in(a) March 1983 and (b) March 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

Estimates for March 1989 are not yet available. In March 1983 there were 2,147,000 self-employed in Great Britain. In December 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, the number was 2,988,000. This represents an increase of 841,000 or 39 per cent. since March 1983.