§ 10. Sir P. Robertsasked the Minister of Labour how many notified vacancies there are in the cutlery and silverware trade in Sheffield; and how many persons are at present applying for such jobs.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe cutlery industry is combined with the tools and implements industry in the statistics that are compiled by my Department and silverware is included in the group entitled, "Jewellery Plate and Refining of Precious 545 Metals." For these two groups the number of vacancies notified to employment exchanges in Sheffield and remaining unfilled at 8th February were 531 and 167, respectively. Statistics of the numbers applying for work in particular industries are not available, but the numbers of persons registered as unemployed at the Sheffield employment exchanges at 13th February whose last employment was in these two industry groups were 121 and 10.
§ 11. Sir P. Robertsasked the Minister of Labour the latest available figures for average weekly earnings in the cutlery and silverware trades in Sheffield.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI regret that information is not available about average earnings in separate towns and in particular trades. The statistics on average earnings compiled in my Department relate to the United Kingdom as a whole and the industrial classification employed is the standard industrial classification used for Government statistics in general. For the industry group covering tools and cutlery the average weekly earnings of all workers in the last pay week in April, 1955, were 174s. 3d. For the industry group covering jewellery, plate, and refining of precious metals, the corresponding figure was 159s. 11d.