HC Deb 18 November 1985 vol 87 c33W
Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Paymaster General how many self-employed persons there were in each of the years 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and the current year to date.

Mr. Alan Clark

The estimated total numbers of self-employed persons in Great Britain in June of each year since 1979 are as follows:

Number
1979 1,842,000
1980 1,950,000
1981 2,057,000
1982 2,109,000
1983 2,160,000
1984 2,433,000
1985 2,559,000

The estimate for June 1985 is provisional.