HC Deb 22 February 1983 vol 37 c405W
Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for the latest quarter for which information is available his estimate of the percentage share of total registered unemployed in the European Community attributable to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Alison

Information published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities—SOEC—shows that in the fourth quarter of 1982, unemployment in the United Kingdom—on the new basis, claimants—accounted for 27 per cent. of the EC total. As this proportion is based on figures which are not fully comparable, owing to differences in coverage and concepts of unemployment, it must be regarded as approximate.