To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they make forecasts of the level of unemployment. [HL29]

The Treasury uses an assumption for the level of the UK claimant count. This assumption is based on an average of independent external forecasts and is audited by the National Audit Office.

Details of the latest assumed level of claimant count unemployment can be found in Box C1, in Chapter C on the public finances, in Financial Statement and Budget Report 2009 (HC 407).