§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report figures comparing the national average wage for 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, and the latest figures available with the average wage of agricultural workers; and if he will also give the agricultural workers' wage for each year as a percentage of the national average wage.
§ Mr. BoothComprehensive information for calendar years is not available. The data below, from the New Earnings Survey, relate to one pay period in April
AVERAGE GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS April1970 April 1971 April 1972 April 1973 April 1974 April 1975 (1) Agriculture and horticulture … £18.90 £21.20 £24.30 £27.80 £35.40 £40.80 (2) All industries and services … £26.80 £29.40 £32.80 £38.10 £43.60 £55.70 (1) as a percentage of (2) … 70.5 72.1 74.1 73.0 81.2 73.2 The estimates are subject to sampling error; those showing the level of average gross weekly earnings are given to the nearest 10p.