§ Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Paymaster General what information he has about the increase in job creation in retail sales in Britain's high streets and commercial centres over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. LeeInformation about job gains and job losses is not available from the Department's statistics, but an indication of the net changes can be seen by comparing levels of employment at different dates.
Between June 1981 and June 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, there was an estimated net increase of 200,000 in the numbers of employees in employment and the self-employed in retail distribution in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Marlandasked the Paymaster General what estimate he has made of the increase in jobs in the service industries over the last five years; and what trend the figures show.
§ Mr. LeeBetween June 1981 and June 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a net increase of 1,243,000 in the numbers of employees in employment and the self-employed in the service industries in Great Britain.
The figures show that there has been a continuing upward trend in employment in the service industries since 1982.