§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average level of unemployment in the Six original members of the European Community between 1958 and 1972 and of the United Kingdom over the same period; and how these figures compare with the average level of unemployment in these countries since 1973.
§ Mr. AlisonThe average unemployment rates are given as follows. The rates, although partially standardized, are not fully comparable because of national differences in concepts, coverage and methods of compilation.
Average unemployment rates* 1958–1972 1973–1981 per cent. per cent. Germany 1.0 3.5 France 1.0 4.7 Italy 5.8 6.5 Netherlands 1.2 4.2 Belgium 2.4 7.1 Luxembourg 0.1 0.5 Average EC(6) 2.3 4.9 United Kingdom 2.1 5.3 * Registered unemployed, expressed as a percentage of the civilian labour force. Source: Estimated from publications of the Statistical Office of the European Communities.