§ Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the highest and lowest percentages of regional unemployment in the United Kingdom; and what are the equivalent figures for the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAt 8th February, 1971, the highest and lowest provisional rates of unemployment in the United Kingdom were in Northern Ireland (7.7 per cent.) and the South East standard region (1.9 per cent.). The latest figures available for the European Economic Community relate to the spring of 1968. At that time the highest and lowest regional rates were France, 3.0 and 1.1; Germany, 1.5 and 0.4; Italy, 6.0 and 2.0; the Netherlands, 2.9 and 0.7; and Belgium, 3.6 and 1.8.