§ Mr. CLARRYasked the Minister of Labour the average increase in wages above the 1914 standard now paid to workers in trades not subjected to foreign competition?
§ Mr. BETTERTONit would be difficult to make a rigid classification of industries according to whether they are or are not subject to foreign competition. Such particulars as are available with regard to the increases in rates of wages in the principal industries since 1914 are given in a special article in the current issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour the number of wage earners employed in the industries in regard to which statistics as to wage changes reported are published monthly in the "Labour Gazette"; and how many wage earners are employed in the industries from which reports are not obtained?
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§ Mr. BETTERTONExact figures are not available, but it is estimated that the number of wage-earners as to whom information is obtained for the purpose of these statistics is rather less than eight millions, or nearly one-half of the total number of wage-earners in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.