HL Deb 20 October 2004 vol 665 cc84-5WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the private sector of the United Kingdom economy, output per hour worked is (i) lower than; (ii) at the same level as; or (iii) higher than the output in (a) the United States; (b) France; and (c) Germany; and by what percentage in each case, for the most recent year for which figures are available. [HL4413]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, to the Lord Patten, dated 20 October 2004.

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on productivity in the private sector. (HL4413)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not currently produce estimates of output per hour worked for the private sector in the UK and as such cannot make comparisons with the United States, France or Germany.

We do, however, produce international comparisons of whole economy output per hour worked on an experimental basis. These figures can be accessed from the ONS website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=9337