§ 1. Mr. Fisherasked the Minister of Labour by how much average wages have increased during the past 12 months, as compared with the previous 12 months, and by how much the intervals between wage settlements have been reduced during the same period as compared with the previous year.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ernest Thornton)During the 12 months ended 31st October, 1965, the index of weekly rates of wages increased by 4.6 per cent. compared with 5.3 per cent. in the previous 12 months. The comparable figures for the hourly wage rates index, which also reflects reductions in normal hours of work, are 7.3 per cent. and 5.8 per cent. The average interval between increases 2 resulting from settlements of wages and conditions of employment was reduced from 14½ months to 10 months.
§ Mr. FisherI am bound to say that those figures are rather better than I expected, and I am very glad that that should be so. However, they are not perfect, and I would ask the hon. Gentlemon how the Government propose to make the incomes policy more effective in future and if, as a first step to that end, it would not be a good idea to make further attempts to secure the active co-operation of the Ministry of Technology and the Transport and General Workers' Union.
§ Mr. ThorntonI think that the hon. Gentleman makes a mistake in underestimating the degree of success with which the incomes policy has been met. From the figures that I have read out, had it not been for our being caught up in a cycle of hours reductions, the wage advance in weekly terms would have been very little removed from the norm.