§ 2. Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the net income in real terms of industrial wage earners in Wales in October 1964, October 1970 and October 1972, taking into account changes in the cost of living.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Thomas)On the basis of the average gross money wages of full-time adult male manual workers, and allowing for changes in the cost of living, income tax, national insurance contributions and family allowances, the net real income of a married man with a wife and two children under 11 increased by 4.7 per cent. between October 1964 and October 1970. It rose by 9.2 per cent. between October 1970 and October 1972.
§ Sir A. MeyerDo not these figures show how groundless are fears that living standards are being reduced by rises in the cost of living?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe figures show that in real terms, after allowing for changes in the cost of living and in other respects, people were better off in October 1972 than in October 1970, and they show also a much greater improvement in real terms in two years under this Government than in six years under the Labour Government.
§ Mr. George ThomasIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that, whatever figures he produces and whatever he says, people will not believe that those in the pensioner category are better off today than they were two years ago, and does he not realise that the cost of living in recent days has been galloping over all past increases?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI do not agree with the right hon. Gentleman. There are plenty of figures to show that the 1039 purchasing power of the pension is greater than it was when the right hon. Gentleman was partly responsible. The Question refers to industrial wage earners.