HC Deb 10 July 1990 vol 176 cc144-5W
Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of women work In the United Kingdom; and what are the comparable figures in European countries.

Mr. Nicholls

The latest comparable figures are given in the table. At that time 57 per cent. of women of working age—14-64—in the United Kingdom were in employment; only Denmark had a higher percentage.

Per cent.
United Kingdom 57
Belgium 38
Denmark 70
Germany 49
Greece 36
Spain 27
France 49
Ireland 32
Italy 35
Luxembourg 40
Holland 43
Portugal 50

Source: Eurostat labour force survey, spring 1988.

Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of self-employed people are women; and what was the percentage in 1979.

Mr. Nicholls

In December 1989, the latest date for which estimates are available, self-employed women represented 24 per cent. of the total self-employed in the United Kingdom, compared with 19 per cent. in June 1979.

Forward to