§ 75. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity by what date she is required to decide whether or not to impose an extension of the stand-still on the wage agreement negotiated in December, 1968, between the Scottish Electrical Contractors Association and their employees.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerOn 15th April my right hon. Friend signed an Order, which was laid before the House on 18th April, the effect of which is to extend until 23rd November, 1969, the standstill against the agreement reached by the Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland and the Electrical and Electronic Trades Union on 18th December, 1968.
§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Employment and 31W Productivity what estimates she has made of the average increase in the earnings of employees of the Scottish Electrical Contractors Association since 1964, and of the average annual increase over the period of applying the wage agreement which she is currently freezing.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerMy Department estimates that the average weekly earnings of electricians employed in the electrical contracting industry in Scotland have increased by 9 per cent. per annum in the period June, 1964 to June, 1968. An increase given in September, 1968 was estimated to further increase the wage bill by 3½ per cent.
The agreement reached on 18th December was estimated to represent an increase in the wage bill of 9½ per cent. over the September level.