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]

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.