§ Q4. Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Prime Minister if he will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the level of unemployment in the EU. [14384]
§ The Prime MinisterI shall take every opportunity to protect the United Kingdom's flexible labour market and falling unemployment against the damaging effects of the social chapter. No other significant European country has an unemployment rate lower than ours.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorAs high unemployment is becoming a tragic nightmare on the continent of Europe—by comparison with the UK, where unemployment has been falling consistently—will the Prime Minister do all in his power to persuade his colleagues in Europe to abandon illogical policies such as fixed exchange rates, which are simply a recipe for job destruction?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is quite right about the relative levels of unemployment. While unemployment fell here last week to a five-year low, in most similar large European countries it is either growing or remaining static at a much higher level than here in the United Kingdom. As the president of the European Monetary Institute said just the other day, other member states should use the United Kingdom as their economic model. I am delighted to have his support—that is what I have been saying to my colleagues on the European Council for several years now.