HC Deb 01 February 1938 vol 331 cc28-9
63. Mr. Lyons

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the approximate upswing of wages for the year ended 31st December, 1937?

Mr. E. Brown

In those industries for which statistics are regularly compiled, the changes in rates of wages reported to my Department during the year ended 31st December, 1937, are estimated to have resulted in a net increase of about £780,000 in the full-time weekly rates of wages of over 5,100,000 workpeople. These statistics are exclusive of changes in the rates of wages of agricultural labourers, domestic servants, shop assistants, clerks and Government employés, and they relate, in the main, to changes collectively arranged between organised groups of employers and workpeople. It is estimated that, in the industries for which information is available, the average level of full-time weekly rates of wages rose by over 4 per cent. during this period. This is the largest increase recorded in any single year since 1920.

Mr. Lyons

Is this increase in the upswing of wages a result of the policy of the National Government?

Mr. Brown

My hon. and learned Friend will see a detailed account of this matter in a special article in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

Mr. T. Williams

Could the Minister publish side by side with his last answer the value of the upswing in prices during the same time?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member will find in the same issue of the Gazette a very complete statement regarding the index figure of the cost of living.

Mr. Gallacher

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us the weekly amount per man that the increase represents?

Mr. Brown

That can be worked out.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it 6d. a week?

Mr. Brown

I would point out that that is by no means a complete statement. It refers to wage rates; total earnings must be much greater.

Mr. Gallacher

Fourpence per week.

Mr. Thurtle

Has the Minister any evidence that the working class now live in riotous extravagance as a result of the increases?