HC Deb 27 October 1980 vol 991 cc135-6W
Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the high unemployment in population-growth areas like the Cannock Chase on the borders of major connurbations; what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment in these areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jim Lester:

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the latest figures compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for the numbers and precentage of unemployed in each of the member countries.

Mr. Jim Lester:

The latest figures—for July 1980 unless stated—compiled by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development using national definitions are given below: they are not directly comparable because of differences in coverage, concepts, and methods of compilation.

Thousand Percentage rate
Australia 385 6.0†
Austria 30 1.0
Belgium 313 11.6
Canada 852 7.1
Denmark 153* 5.8*
Finland (June) 113 4.5
France 1,330 7.1†
German Federal Republic 853 3.7
Greece 21 1.4*
Irish Republic 68 9.5
Italy 1,554 7.0
Japan 1,120 1.9*
Netherlands 248 5.8†
New Zealand 37 —
Norway 17 0.9
Spain (May) 1,242 9.5
Sweden 40 1.8
Switzerland 5 0.2†
Turkey (April) 272 —
United Kingdom‡ 1,602 6.6
United States 8,410 7.9
Yugoslavia (March) 805 —
* Provisional.
† Estimated.
‡ Excluding school leavers who numbered 296 thousand in July.
Information is not available for member countries not included above.