Self-employed (Hansard, 17 November 1987)

HC Deb 17 November 1987 vol 122 c515W 515W

§ 46. Mr. Bellingham
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the numbers of self-employed since 1983.

§ Mr. Cope
Between June 1983 and June 1987 the numbers of self-employed in Great Britain increased by an estimated 509,000.

§ 66. Mr. Beaumont-Dark
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the increase of self-employment since 1979.

§ Mr. Cope
Since 1979 the estimated number of self-employed people in the United Kingdom has risen from 1.9 million to 2.7 million, an increase of 43 per cent. This increase is very encouraging as self-employment has an important role to play in the regeneration of the economy and the reduction in unemployment.