§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the relative movement of unit labour costs in the United Kingdom and the other European Economic Community countries since 1979.
§ Mr. LeeInternational comparisons of unit labour costs for the whole economy are not available. However, the available information for manufacturing industries is provided in the table:
Unit labour costs in manufacturing (increases) percentage change since 1979 Country Per cent. Netherlands 7.0 Belgium 10.7 Germany 26.8 United Kingdom 54.7 Ireland 55.2 Denmark 62.8 France 73.2 Spain 91.3 Italy 108.9 Notes:
1. The percentages are calculated from index series produced by the International Monetary Fund; the latest available figures are for the first quarter of 1988.
2. Figures for Greece, Luxembourg and Portugal are not available.
3. The source index series are in local currency and are not adjusted for exchange rate changes.