HL Deb 09 May 1996 vol 572 cc22-3WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom in May 1979, and what is the current rate of unemployment in: (a) the United Kingdom; (b) the United States of America and (c) Japan.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publishes figures based on the internationally standard definition of unemployment recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It is the ILO definition of unemployment that provides the best basis for international comparisons. According to the available figures published by the OECD, the United Kingdom's ILO unemployment rate stood at 5.0 per cent. in the second quarter of 1979. In January 1996 (the latest available date for the comparison requested) the UK rate stood at 8.4 per cent., compared with 5.7 per cent. in the USA and 3.4 per cent. in Japan.