HC Deb 15 June 1939 vol 348 cc1494-5
23. Mr. Brooke

asked the Minister of Labour what was the net effect of changes in rates of wages, as reported to his Department, during the periods 1928 to 1931 and 1935 to 1938, respectively?

Mr. E. Brown

In the industries for which statistics are regularly compiled, the changes in weekly full-time rates of wages reported to the Department amounted to a net decrease of £ 678,550 in the period 1928 to 1931, and to a net increase of £ 1,715,200 in the period 1935 to 1938. The 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.

Mr. Paling

How do those figures compare with the amount of the subsidy that has been given to employers?

Mr. Gallacher

Would the right hon. Gentleman give us the figures showing the rate of production and the rate of profit?

Mr. J. Griffiths

What is the increase in the rate of productivity?

Mr. Brown

If the hon. Member will put the question down I will do my best to give him an accurate answer.