§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his answer to the hon. Member for North Norfolk, dated 19 December 1990,Official Report, column 177, on public sector manning, if he will state the number of people employed in the public sector in 1978–79 and 1988–89 (a) excluding nationalised industries and (b) excluding nationalised industries and armed forces, and also give the change in manpower in per cent. terms.
§ Mr. MellorThe information is as follows:
1978–79 thousands 1988–89 thousands Change thousands Per cent. (a) 4,722 4,580 -142 -3.0 (b) 4,396 4,256 -140 -3.2 Source: The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93 (Cm. 1021): Chapter 21, Appendix D.