§ John MannTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact of job growth in the private sector over the past seven years upon employment figures in the public service. [171242]
§ Mr. BoatengAs a result of the macroeconomic stability and labour market reforms delivered by this Government, employment in the public and private sectors has grown by 1.9 million since 1997, of which over 70 per cent. was in the private sector, and the total number of people in work in the UK is now the highest since records began. While jobs have risen and fallen in a number of areas, jobs in construction are up by 335,000; jobs in finance and business services up by 856,000; transport and communications up by 170,000; and distribution and hotels up by 424,000.