§ 28. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how unemployment in the United Kingdom now compares with that in other European countries; and to what he attributes the high ratio factors.
§ Mr. John GrantThe seasonally adjusted percentage rates of unemployment in major European countries in July, as published in theDepartment of Employment Gazette and derived from OECD sources are:
United Kingdom … 5.5 Belgium … 8.9 Denmark … 9.6 France … 5.3 Germany … 4.5 Ireland … 12.4 Italy … 3.8 Netherlands … 5.3 These rates, however, are not directly comparable owing to differences in coverage, concepts of unemployment and methods of compilation. It is clear that all countries have been affected by the recession, though the effects on employment may fall differently in timing and severity.