§ 4. Mr. LEWIS JONESasked the Minister of Labour if he can state what is the latest information in his possession as to the comparative real wages in the following countries: Great Britain, 1250 Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Czechslovakia, Italy, Spain, and Portugal?
Mr. HUDSONThe latest statistics of comparative real wages in oversea countries relate to July, 1930, and were published by the International Labour Office in the "International Labour Review" for October, 1930, and reproduced in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for November, 1930, page 404. The International Labour Office have not compiled and published statistics of comparative real wages in respect of any date later than July, 1930.
§ Mr. BROCKLEBANKWhy is the International Labour Office not publishing the figures any longer?
Mr. HUDSONI understand that certain foreign countries took exception to the conclusions that were drawn as a result of this inquiry and objected that the figures were not properly comparable.
§ Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISDo the figures referred to include the wage value of social services?
§ Mr. L. JONESWill the hon. Gentleman have these figures published in the OFFICIAL REPORT?
§ Mr. LAWSONWould not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the information about wages in his possession is very meagre as very few wages agreements are sent to the Ministry?
Mr. HUDSONAs far as this country is concerned, I do not think that that is so. As regards real wages, we can make a fairly good estimate, but we have not that information for foreign countries.
§ Mr. TH0RNEWould it be advisable to go to the expense of publishing a White Paper showing the wages for these countries?
Mr. HUDSONThat is the point of my reply—that we have not the informa- 1251 tion available, and that the International Labour Office have ceased to collect statistics.