§ 77. Mr. Kimballasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware that the recent settlement of the National Joint Council for the cast stone and concrete industry represents a 15.5 per cent. increase for the third largest manufacturer of roof tiles in this country; and what factors she took into account in assessing the basic minimum wage in the industry.
Mr. WalkerThe increase approved by my Department for the cast stone and cast concrete products industry was for 3d. per hour on an existing national basic rate of 5s. 9d. per hour, which is equivalent to 4.3 per cent. At a meeting with my officials on 5th September employer representatives of the industry estimated that the cost of the proposed increase on the wage bill would be 2.6 per cent. The 201W proposal, included in the agreement for an earnings fall back rate of £13 per week for men was not considered to be inconsistent with incomes policy.