§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Prime Minister if he will give the rates of unemployment for the United Kingdom and Italy pursuant to his statement during Question Time of Tuesday 4th April 1978 that Italy has a higher rate of unemployment than the United Kingdom, using a comparable basis, and stating the source from which these figures are derived.
§ Mr. John GrantIn the absence of my right hon. Friend who is attending the European Council Meeting in Copenhagen, I have been asked to reply.
Figures compiled by the EEC, which make partial adjustment for non-comparable features in national statistics, show unemployment rates in February of 8 per cent. for Italy and 5.9 per cent. for the United Kingdom. The EEC figures for the number of unemployed are 1,580,300 for Italy, and 1,508,700 for the United Kingdom. Fuller adjustments to national estimates are normally made by both the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics and OECD but the figures they prepare for Italy and the United Kingdom are currently under review.