§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the current number of unfilled vacancies per 100 wholly unemployed in Scotland and Great Britain, respectively, for the following employment categories, electrical and electronics, engineering and allied trades, and construction, and show how this compares with March 1972.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithFollowing is the available information:
statistics there has been no wage drift during the period of operation of the Government's counter-inflation policy. In the period from November 1972 to August 1973 weekly earnings have moved closely in line with weekly wage rates. When allowance is made for the effects of a number of pre-standstill commitments and extra payments allowed for additional output and progress towards equal pay, the increase in the monthly index of average earnings since November is consistent with the policy.
597W