§ 10. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is now the average weekly wage for men and women; and what has been the increase in each case over the past six,. 12, and 18 months.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Employment (Mr. Paul Bryan)In October, 1970, the average weekly earnings of full-time manual men were £2805, which was an increase of 13 per cent. over the previous 12 months and 17.3 per cent. over the previous 18 months. The corresponding figures for women were £13.99, 15.5 per cent. and 19.3 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. OsbornTo what extent are those industrial groups who are already receiving the highest wages now having the highest increase, and to what extent has the purchasing power of the average wage increased or decreased over the previous five years?
§ Mr. BryanI cannot without notice answer the second part of the supplementary question in detail. On the first part, although in certain cases workers in higher-paid industries have received high increases over the months concerned and the lower-paid relatively low increases, there is no indication from my Department's records that the relative position between the higher and the lower-paid in industry is in general altering.
§ Mr. John PageAs my pocket computer is not working, will my hon. Friend tell me whether the figures he has given indicate that the differential between male and female wages is growing greater?
§ Mr. BryanThe figures I have given do not suggest that, and recent wage council settlements have indicated a welcome trend toward the closing of the gap between men's and women's wages.