HC Deb 10 November 1969 vol 791 cc37-8W
Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the current employee activity rate in Wales and England, respectively: and what is her estimate of the increased number of people at work in Wales on the basis that the Welsh rate equalled that of England

Mr. Dell

In mid-1968 the employee activity rate, defined as the estimated number of employees aged 15 and over (both employed and unemployed) expresed as a proportion of the population aged 15 and over, was 47. per cent. in Wales and 56. per cent. in England. If this latter employee activity rate were applied to the population in Wales, the resultant number of employees would exceed the estimated number of employees in Wales at mid-1968 by 204,000; but this calculation would take no account of the fact that there are relatively more self-employed persons in Wales than in England.