HC Deb 22 May 1996 vol 278 cc253-4W
19. Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the United Kingdom's record on reducing unemployment in relation to that of other major EU countries. [29112]

Mr. Forth

The UK, free of the burden of unnecessary regulation, has the lowest unemployment rate of any major European country—at 8.4 per cent., well below the 11 per cent. average throughout Europe.

30. Sir Michael Neubert

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next expects to meet her European counterparts to discuss current levels of unemployment in EU countries. [29124]

Mr. Forth

I expect to meet European Union Employment Ministers at the next meeting of the Social Affairs Council on 3 June at which we will be discussing a draft report to the Florence European Council on employment issues. We will also discuss the employment situation with Economic and Finance Ministers.