§ Mr. DunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will publish the current unemployment rates in each European Union member state, indicating in each case whether the social chapter is in force; [2919]
(2) if she will publish the current youth unemployment rates in each European Union member state, indicating in each case whether the social chapter is in force. [2920]
§ Mr. Paice[holding answer 11 November 1996]: The information is set out in following table. I am pleased to confirm that, both for unemployment overall and for unemployment of people below the age of 25, the UK rate is substantially below the figure in the European Union as a whole. The UK is the only country to which the social chapter does not apply.
Total Under 25 years Belgium 09.8 25.0 Denmark 06.1 07.9 Germany 08.9 09.7 Greece — — Spain 21.3 39.2 France 12.4 28.7 Ireland 12.5 19.0 Italy — — Luxembourg 03.1 07.7 Netherlands — — Austria 04.1 06.1 Portugal 07.1 16.7 Finland 16.0 35.2 Sweden 09.8 22.6 UK 08.2 15.0 EU 10.8 21.1