The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

Chief Secretary (1987-1989)

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Self-Employment – 14 January 1988

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Self-Employment on 14th January 1988.


Mr. Devlin To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will quantify the extent to which growth in the economy has been reflected in an increase in self-employment over the period since 1979.

Mr. Quentin Davies To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will quantify the extent to which growth in the economy has been reflected in an increase in self-employment over the period since 1979.

Mr. Major Self-employment in the United Kingdom in June 1987 was over three-quarters of a million higher than in 1979, an increase five times as great as in the previous 30 years. Self-employment has been encouraged by the combination of steady, sustained growth in the economy and the success of supply side policies in stimulating enterprise.