§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the percentage annual in unit labour costs in manufacturing in each year since 1979 in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) the United States of America, and (e) Japan.
§ Mr. LeeThe following table sets out the available information. Annual figures for 1987 are not yet available:
Unit labour costs in manufacturing Percentage change on previous year Unite Kingdom France Germany United States Japan 1979 18 8 3 10 0 1980 22 15 8 12 0 1981 9 12 5 7 4 1982 3 11 3 6 -1 1983 -1 8 -1 -2 -2 1984 2 6 1 -2 -4 1985 3 5 2 0 -2 1986 4 2 3 0 1
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Permanent workers dismissed for offence justifying summary dismissal 4 13 1 — — — —