To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates her Department has made of the number of companies currently on short-time working; and how many employees are affected by such short-time working. [37513]

In August 1995—provisional—8,000 operatives were affected by short-time working. Further information can be obtained from table 1.11 of the Employment Gazette, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. Figures for the number of companies on short-time working are not available.