HC Deb 20 December 1955 vol 547 cc1815-6
1. Mr. McKay

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage increase in men's wages from October, 1946, to October, 1954.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

Complete statistics covering all industries are not available, but in manufacturing industries generally and in a number of the principal non-manufacturing industries there was a rise of 69 per cent. in the average weekly earnings of adult male wage-earners between October, 1946, and October, 1954.

Mr. McKay

Is the Minister aware that during that period men have been working an hour longer than in 1946 and that if one also takes into account the fact that they are paying about 4s. extra contribution to National Insurance and about 3s. a week tax, the 69 per cent. comes down to about 60 per cent., while dividends and profits have risen by about 100 per cent.?

Mr. Watkinson

I cannot agree with the hon. Member's comparison. The statistical fact is that over that fairly long period the increase in earnings is a great deal ahead of the increase in dividends.

4. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Labour what are the six highest wage groups, with the average weekly earnings for each group, and also for agricultural workers for the first half of 1955, or later, if this information is available.

Mr. Watkinson

The latest available information about average earnings in different industries will be found in the in the September issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

Mr. Osborne

But is my hon. Friend aware that these figures are nearly six months old and that I was asking for up-to-date figures? If the price of food had gone up as much as the price of coal, how would agricultural wages compare with miners' wages? Why should the nation have cheap food when it is prepared to pay for dearer coal?

Mr. Watkinson

The reason I cannot give my hon. Friend more up-to-date figures than are found in the Gazette is that we only hold this earnings inquiry twice a year. I have indicated where he will find the most up-to-date figures. I cannot answer his other question now, but if he is interested I will try to find the information for him.

Mr. Lee

Will the hon. Gentleman make it clear that it is not necessarily the case that the highest wage groups are the highest earners, and that in all of this there are calculations of tax, night work, overtime, and so on?

Mr. Watkinson

I always think it is unwise to go too deeply into statistical comparisons.

Mr. G. Thomas

The hon. Gentleman should say that to the Minister of Education.