§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the most recent figures for unemployment in the 12 European Union member states.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 7 July 1994]: Internationally comparable unemployment figures based on the internationally standardised ILO definition of unemployment are published by EUROSTAT in its monthly "Unemployment Bulletin", copies of which are available in the Library. These figures, which show that the United Kingdom ILO unemployment rate is below the EC average, are shown in the table.
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Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates in EC countries Percentage Latest month Belgium 10.0 April Denmark 10.5 April Germany1 6.3 April
Percentage Latest month Greece n/a — Spain 23.1 April France 11.3 April Ireland 17.9 April Italy 11.5 April Luxembourg 3.3 April Netherlands 10.0 March Protugal 6.2 April United Kingdom 9.9 April EC average 11.0 April 1This figures only relates to the former West Germany. n/a Not available.