HC Deb 06 May 1971 vol 816 cc426-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures giving a comparison in the annual rise in the real wages after allowing for the rise in the cost of living in each of the countries of the Six, since its inception, and those in Great Britain;

(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details to show how in 1970 the average wage in Great Britain compared with each of the Common Market countries; and, using as the basis of the £ sterling having a purchasing value of 20s. in 1958, what since the inception of the Common Market has been the relative rise or fall in the real standard of living of each of these countries with Great Britain.

Mr. Bryan

Below are the relevant figures available from international sources.

I must emphasise that owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are

Wages non-agricultural sectors Variations in industrial coverage of wages figures Consumer Prices
Belgium:
Earnings per day
Males … 6.3 Excluding commerce 2.5
Females … 7.9
Earnings per hour All workers … 6.9
France:
Rates of pay per hour
Males—Adults only … 7.8 Excluding mining and quarrying 4.1
Females—Adults only … 8.0
All workers—Adults only … 7.8
Earnings per hour All workers … 8.0 Excluding mining and quarrying, state operated transport and government services.
Federal Republic of Germany:
Earnings* per hour
Males … 8.1 Excluding commerce and transport (1958–1970). 2.5
Females … 9.0
All workers … 8.3
Earnings* per week All workers … 7.6 (1958–1969) 2.3
Italy:
Rates of pay per hour All workers … 7.3 Excluding commerce and transport 3.3
Luxembourg†:
Earnings per hour All workers … 5.9 Excluding commerce and transport 2.0
Netherlands‡:
Earnings per hour All workers … 7.7 3.5
United Kingdom§:
Average weekly earnings All workers … 6.8 Excluding coalmining, commerce and railways. 3.6
* Including family allowances paid directly by the employer: Earnings per hour 1958–1970; Earnings per week 1958–1969.
† Period 1958–1968.
‡ Period 1958–1966; includes salaried employees.
§ Period October, 1958 to October, 1970.

Sources:

European Economic Community Countries: I.L.O. Year Books and Quarterly Bulletin first quarter 1971.

United Kingdom: Department of Employment.