HL Deb 26 February 1996 vol 569 c90WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current rate of unemployment in (a) the United Kingdom, (h) Japan, and (c) the United States of America.

The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish):

Comparable unemployment figures on the International Labour Organisation definition are published by the OECD. These show for the latest available periods that the rate of unemployment was 8.6 per cent. in the UK (December 1995). 5.5 per cent. in the USA (December 1995) and 3.2 per cent. in Japan (November 1995).