HC Deb 14 October 1996 vol 282 cc701-2W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of people, using full-time equivalents, employed in the food retail sector in the years(a) 1970, (b) 1975, (c) 1980, (d) 1985, (e) 1990, (f) 1995 and (g) 1996; for each year what was the proportion of people working in companies employing (1) one to 10, (2) 11 to 24, (3) 25 to 49, (4) 50 to 99, (5) 100 to 199, (6) 200 to 499 and (7) 500 and above; and if he will make a statement. [40130]

Mrs. Angela Knight

Information on a full-time equivalent basis cannot be provided for all years. The tables provide total employees for each year and full-time/part-time where available. The earliest available information comparable with later years is at 1971.

Information on workplace size is available from the census of employment and can be accessed through the NOMIS database by the House of Commons Library.

Employees in Great Britain: at June (thousands)1 Standard industrial classification 1980—retail distribution of food
Men2 Women Total
Full-time Part-time
1971 229 171 174 574
1975 217 153 219 588
1980 216 155 225 596
1 Unadjusted.
2 Full-time/part-time split for men not available.
Standard industrial classification 1992—retail trade in non-specialised stores selling mainly food, drink and tobacco retail sale of food in specialised stores
Men Women Total
All Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time
1980 2451 171 240 656
1985 2371 140 254 630
1990 180 82 145 335 743
1995 160 120 118 418 817
1996 165 128 120 429 842
1 Full-time/part-time split for men not available.