§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour what total increases in weekly wage rates have been received, since Her Majesty's Government first proposed their policy of restriction on increases of incomes, by journalists, general cargo workers, transport workers, railway engine drivers, the more highly skilled men in the engineering industry, fitters and patternmakers.
§ Mr. HareThe table below gives the required information:
Occupation Increase in weekly wage rates since 25th July, 1961 Journalists (agreed London minimum of Newspaper Proprietors Association) 50s. 0d. General cargo workers (minimum rates of National Joint Council for Port Transport Industry) 8s. 3d. Road passenger transportworkers (drivers and conductors):— London Transport Executive 6s. 6d. Municipal undertakings 6s. 6d. Company owned undertakings 6s. 0d. Railway engine drivers 7s. 0d. or 8s. 0d. (according to grade and years of service) Engineering:— Highly skilled men Nil* Fitters Patternmakers *As from 9th July, 1962. these categories of workers will receive increases of 6s. per week.
§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour, if he will set out in tabular form in the OFFICIAL REPORT, so that comparison may be made based upon official figures, the weekly wage rates expressed as a percentage, taking July, 1914, as 100, in 1920, 1930, 1960 and 1962 for engineering fitters, pattern-makers, bricklayers, railway engine drivers, passenger porters, hand compositors, journalists, and general cargo workers, respectively.
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§ Mr. HareYes. The following table gives the information required:
Industry and occupation Weekly Rates of Wages expressed as percentage of level at July, 1914=100 31st Dec., 1920 31st Dec, 1930 31st Dec., 1960 4th July. 1962 Engineering Average of recognised time rate in 16 principal centres in the United Kingdom Fitters and Turners 230 152 501 505* Patternmakers 224 150 520 520* Building Average of recognised rates in 39 large towns in the United Kingdom Bricklayers 248 174 539 579 Railway service† Engine drivers excluding London (according to year and grade‡) 217 to 262 178 to 222 543 to 642 560 to 662 Passenger porters (grade 2) in industrial areas excluding London 350 219 877 903 Printing and bookbinding Average of recognised rates in 26 large towns in the United Kingdom Hand compositors 261 207 643 717 Newspaper publishing Journalists (agreed London minimum of Newspaper Proprietors Association) Not possible to give figures as there is no information about rates in July, 1914 Dock labour Average of recognised minimum rates in10 large ports in the United Kingdom General cargo workers§ 266 201 542 567 * The increase of 6s. per week operative from 9th July1962 will increase these percentages to 519 and 534 respectively. †Whereas the 1914 rates are the estimated approximate averages of the rates actually paid those for subsequent dates are the agreed standard rates. ‡Extra payments made when performing over a certain mileage per day are excluded §Based on daily and not weekly rates.