§ 14. Mr. DevlinTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of Britain's working age population are in employment; and what is the figure in other European countries. [9529]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightTotal employment in autumn 1996 was almost 300,000 up on a year earlier, 900,000 million higher than at the end of 1992, and 1.5 million higher than at the end of 1979. Our impressive record on job creation means that, at 69 per cent., we have a higher proportion of our working age population in work, and a lower unemployment rate than any other major EU country.