§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in (a) the average basic wage rates for all workers covered by the Department of Employment basic weekly wage rate index over the 12-month period since July 1975, (b) the average percentage increase in earnings for the same group of workers over the same period, and (c) the rise in the retail price index over the same period.
§ Mr. GoldingThe percentage increases between July 1975 and July 1976 in the monthly index numbers compiled by my Department were:
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per cent. Index of basic weekly wage rates (UK 17.8 Index of average earnings (GB) 13.8 General index of retail prices (UK) 12.9 The wage rates index covers manual workers only and is based on minimum entitlements laid down in national agreements or wages regulation orders. The earnings index covers all employees, including non-manual and part-time workers, in production and certain other industries covered by the Department's monthly survey before its recent extension. An earnings index cannot be given for manual workers covered by the wage rates index.