§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of average earnings is represented by unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom and in each other country of the European Community.
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§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to section VII of "Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the Member States of the European Communities, Portugal and Spain (position at 1 January 1983)", a copy of which is in the Library. The tables show the percentages of earnings on which unemployment benefit may be based in those Community countries which calculate unemployment benefit on an earnings-related basis and the flat rates paid in the other three countries, which include the United Kingdom.
The percentages of net average male earnings in Great Britain in November 1982 represented by unemployment benefit, for various family types, can be derived from table 6.1b in the "Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions", a copy of which is also in the Library.