HC Deb 19 January 1989 vol 145 c259W
Mr. Hanley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of(a) self employment and (b) part-time employment in the United Kingdom since 1979.

Mr. Major

Between June 1979 and September 1988 the number of self-employed people in Great Britain rose by 60 per cent. to nearly 3 million. Over the same period, the part-time workforce in employment rose by 30 per cent. to over 6 million.

Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which regions adult unemployment has fallen over the past year.

Mr. Major

Adult unemployment has fallen in every region of the United Kingdom over the last year, and fastest in the west midlands, the north-west and Wales.

Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in the number of long-term unemployed aged 18 to 24 years since October 1986.

Mr. Major

The latest available figures for October 1988 show that the number of long-term unemployed aged between 18 and 24 has fallen by one half since October 1986.