HC Deb 05 November 1987 vol 121 cc834-5W
Mr. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish the results of his Department's current research into the problems facing women entrepreneurs; and whether he will give the terms of reference for this project.

Mr. Nicholls

The terms of reference for the study of female entrepreneurs commissioned jointly by my Department and Shell UK Ltd. are as follows;

  1. 1. To establish the personal characteristics, motivations and social context of women who become successfully established in business;
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  2. 2. To identify the specific problems faced by women in running a business and the methods whereby these arc resolved;
  3. 3. To examine what advice, training and other support women entrepreneurs need and can obtain at the various stages of setting up and operating a business;
  4. 4. To provide an account of the different ways women can become engaged in enterprise and to identify particular factors which contribute to business viability;
  5. 5. To advise on, and where possible, implement methods of dissemination of the research findings so that they reach the client group in question;
  6. 6. To advise on ways in which initiatives and programmes can be moulded to facilitate women's effective participation in enterprise.

Employed labour force in Great Britain
Self employed Employees in employment Her Majesty's Forces Employed labour force
June of each year Males Females Males Females Males Females Males Females
1977 1,463,000 380,000 13,077,000 9,036,000 313,000 14,000 14,853,000 9,430,000
1978 1,478,000 364,000 13,097,000 9,152,000 303,000 15,000 14,878,000 9,531,000
1979 1,494,000 348,000 13,176,000 9,435,000 299,000 15,000 14,969,000 9,798,000
1980 1,567,000 383,000 13,012,000 9,421,000 307,000 16,000 14,886,000 9,820,000
1981 1,641,000 417,000 12,275,000 9,087,000 317,000 17,000 14,233,000 9,521,000
1982 1,647,000 462,000 11,930,000 8,966,000 309,000 15,000 13,886,000 9,443,000
1983 1,652,000 508,000 11,674,000 8,882,000 306,000 16,000 13,633,000 9,406,000
1984 1,849,000 586,000 11,627,000 9,104,000 310,000 16,000 13,786,000 9,706,000
1985 1,923,000 628,000 11,709,000 9,295,000 309,000 16,000 13,941,000 9,939,000
1986 1,936,000 631,000 11,653,000 9,446,000 306,000 16,000 13,894,000 10,093,000
19871 1,994,000 875,000 11,725,000 9,646,000 302,000 16,000 14,022,000 10,337,000
1The latest date for which whole economy, employees in employment estimates are available. The self-employment estimates are projections based on the growth rate from 1981 to 1986. The figures, with the exception of those for Her Majesty's forces, are adjusted for the effects of seasonal variation.