HC Deb 10 July 1978 vol 953 cc376-7W
Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the percentage share of total registered unemployment in the EEC and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development attributable to the United Kingdom for each year since 1960, and any earlier years for which data is available, including his estimate for the latest period in 1978; and if he will provide comparable figures for male unemployment.

Mr. Golding

The table below gives the available information based on data published by the statistical office of the European Communities. However, the coverage and definition of registered unemployed may vary significantly between countries and over time and the following percentages should be regarded as only an approximate indicator of the United Kingdom share in unemployment in the EEC.

PERCENTAGE OF REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED IN THE EEC (CURRENT MEMBERSHIP) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
Total Males
1950 8 8
1955 7 7
1958 13 13
1960 15 15
1961 16 16
1962 23 24
1963 26 28
1964 21 23
1965 18 18
1966 18 20
1967 22 24
1968 24 27
1969 28 32
1970 29 34
1971 31 36
1972 31 36
1973 24 30
1974 20 26
1975 21 26
1976 26 32
1977 26 32
January to May 1978 25 30

Source: "Population and Employment 1950–1976" and the "Statistical Telegram of Registered Unemployed" published by the SOEC.

The OECD does not publish information about registered unemployment which would enable corresponding figures to be provided.