§ 38. Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much unit labour costs in the United 169W Kingdom have increased over the last 12 months; and what information he has as to by how much labour costs have increased over the same period in France, West Germany, Japan and the United States of America.
§ Mr. LeeInternational comparisons of unit labour costs for the whole economy are not available. However, the latest available information for manufacturing industries is provided in the table:
Unit labour costs in manufacturing Percentage changes in the year to the fourth quarter of 1988 per cent. United Kingdom 0.4 France -15 West Germany 0.7 Japan -2.0 United States 1.1 Notes:
1. The percentages are calculated from index series produced by the International Monetary Fund; the latest available figures for the five countries on a consistent basis are for the fourth quarter of 1988.
2. The source index series are in local currency and are not adjusted for exchange rate changes.