§ LORD BALOGHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what the increase in average weekly earnings is estimated to be in each quarter of 1969 (the fourth quarter forward estimate), over the same quarter of 1968.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY (LORD DELACOURT-SMITH)My Lords, for the industries covered by the monthly index of average earnings for all employees compiled by the Department of Employment and Productivity the percentage increase for each of the first three quarters of 1969 over the corresponding quarter of 1968 was:
Information is not available on which to calculate forward estimates.
1969: Per cent. 1st Quarter … … +7.2 2nd Quarter … +7.7 3rd Quarter … … +7.8
§ LORD BALOGHMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for his Answer. Does he not think that a greater pressure on prices ought now to be exerted in order to contain the rising costs?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, I should not like, on the strength of the Answer which I have given, to speculate upon that subject.
§ LORD BALOGHMy Lords, would not that speculation be very useful?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, there is always room for debate about the usefulness of speculation.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether that applies equally to both sexes?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, I take it that my noble friend is referring to the reply which I gave. The figures collected for the purpose of this index of earnings do not distinguish between men and women, a fact which I am sure will be a great satisfaction to her.