asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were employed in work or training schemes in May 1979; and what was the comparable figure in May 1985.

The table below gives estimates of

(a)persons in employment and

(b)persons engaged on Government employment or training schemes in Great Britain. The majority of those participating in government schemes are also included in the employed labour force statistics; column (c) indicates the numbers estimated to beincluded in both series.

Employment estimates for all industries are not available for the dates requested. The table therefore gives figures for the closest dates possible.

	(a) Employed Labour Force✶(seasonally adjusted)	(b) Persons on Government Schemes	(c) Persons thought to be covered in both (a)and(b)
December 1984	23,627,000	690,000	400,000
June 1979	24,776,000	272,000	180,000
✶This comprises employees in employment, the self-employed and persons in the armed services.