HC Deb 16 February 1981 vol 999 cc64-5W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the latest figures compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for the numbers and percentage unemployed in each of the member countries.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The latest figures (for November 1980 unless otherwise stated) compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development using national definitions are given below: they are not directly comparable because of differences in coverage, concepts, and methods of compilation.

Thousand Percentage rate
Australia *357 *5.4
Austria 66 25.3
Belgium 365 13.3
Canada 787 65.8
Denmark *217 *85.3
Finland (October) 121 55.1
France 1613 †85.6
Germany FR 968 45.2
Greece *47 *†25.9
Irish Republic (October) *81 *ll.3
Italy (July) 1812 7.9
Japan 1210 2.1
Netherlands 297 †7.0
New Zealand 48 —
Norway 24 †l.3
Spain (October) 1360 †10.4
Sweden 47 2.2
Switzerland 6 †0.2
Turkey (June) 283 —
United Kingdom5‡ 2052 †8.5
United States 7486 7.1
Yugoslavia (August) 771 —
* provisional
† estimated
‡ excluding school leavers, who numbered 111 thousand in November.

Information is not available for member countries not included above.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider extending the job retirement scheme to persons aged 62 years onwards employed in textiles and clothing.

Mr. Peter Morrison

As the hon. Member will be aware, the Government's special employment measures are regularly reviewed, and I can assure him that his suggestion amongst others will be carefully considered on the occasion of the next review.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in total in the textile and clothing industry are in receipt of benefits under the temporary short-time working scheme.

Mr. Peter Morrison

In the month of December 1980, 45,376 people were working short time under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in the textile industry and 36,711 in the clothing and footwear industry.

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