HC Deb 29 January 1980 vol 977 c560W
Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of those in the United Kingdom employed (a) by central Government, (b) by the local authorities and (c) by public corporations and the nationalised industries.

Mr. Jim Lester

The latest available figures relate to mid-year 1978 and were given in the article "Employment in the public and private sectors 1961–1978", in the November 1979 issue ofEconomic Trends. They show that 9.3 per cent. of the United Kingdom employed labour force was employed by central Government—including Her Majesty's Forces—12.1 per cent. by local authorities and 8.3 per cent. by nationalised industries and other public corporations. Detailed definitions of the coverage of these figures are given in the article in Economic Trends.