§ Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list showing the latest available figures for the rate of unemployment in each OECD member country.
Mr. JacksonFollowing is a table which gives the latest available internationally comparable unemployment rates for the OECD countries.
Comparisons of unemployment between OECD countries Standardised unemployment rates2 seasonally adjusted Percentage rate Latest month Spain 15.8 November Ireland 15.1 March Canada 10.4 March Italy 9.8 October New Zealand 9.6 February France 9.2 February Australia 9.1 March United Kingdom 8.6 March Belgium 8.5 March Netherlands 7.5 February United States 6.8 March Finland 5.7 February Norway 5.0 November Germany (FR)1 4.5 February Portugal 4.5 November Sweden 2.3 March Japan 2.0 February OECD Total2 6.6 February Major 73 6.1 February Source: OECD "Main Economic Indicators" and Press Releases.
1 There are no reliable figures available as yet for a unified 644W Germany. The rate quoted is for what was formerly West Germany.
2 Only the countries listed are included in the total.
3 United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan and Canada.