§ 1958. Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in the number of people employed in United Kingdom ports and associated employment since(a) 1978, (b) 1968 and (c)
§ Mr. David MitchellThe following figures, published annually in "Port Statistics" by my Department and the British Ports Association, are estimates of the number of people employed in the port transport industry. They are derived from the Department of Employment's standard industrial classification. Because of changes in the definition of the classification, the figure for 1986 (the latest available year) may be rather lower than an entirely consistent series would have given. The figures relate to Great Britain and to the middle of each year.
530W
Employees 1958 1155,450 1968 129,625 1978 62,600 1986 35,100 1 Including perhaps some 8,000 employed in inland waterway transport and other ancillary industries.
A separate survey undertaken by the British Ports Association and National Association of Port Employers in March 1987 produced a total for Great Britain of 38,989.