§ 9. Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of the national wages and salaries, respectively, for 1951; and what are the estimated corresponding figures for 1958.
§ Mr. ErrollIn 1951, £5,095 million was paid out in wages and £2,580 million in salaries. For the year 1957, £7,720 million was paid out in wages and £4,060 million in salaries. Corresponding figures are not yet available for the year 1958, but in the first nine months of 1958 the combined wage and salary bill amounted to £9,095 million, representing an increase of 4 per cent. on the corresponding period of 1957.
§ Mr. OsborneMay I ask two questions? When does my hon. Friend expect the final figure to be ready? Would he not agree that the figures he has already show that the working man of this country is far better off under the Tories than he was under the Socialists?
§ Mr. ErrollI regret that I cannot say at present when the full figures for 1958 will be available.