§ 49. Mr. Rifkindasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange a meeting between himself, the General Secretary of the TUC and the President of the CBI to discuss the future of the Government's economic strategy.
§ Mr. HealeyAs regards the future of the Government's economic strategy I
April1977 May1977 June1977 Manufactured goods* Unit value of imports … 169 167 169§ Unit value of exports … 171 175 175§ Manufacturing industry† Basic hourly wage rates … 173 175 175 Average weekly earnings‡ … 164 167§ — Wage and salary costs per unit of output‡ … 138§ — — *Divisions 5–8 inclusive of the Standard International Trade Classification. †Orders III-XIX inclusive of the Standard Industrial Classification. ‡Seasonally adjusted. §Provisional. Information on wage and salary costs per unit of output is not yet available for May or June 1977, and information on earnings is not yet available for June.
174Wfamily or child benefit, of a married couple with two children and with four children as a percentage of the net income of a single person, in 1960–61 and in 1977–78, assuming earnings equal to 75 per cent. and 200 per cent. of average male manual earnings in each case.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe figures are as follows:
would like to assure the hon. Member that it is in good hands. I believe that we are now better placed to achieve our long-term aims than we have been for some time past.
A key aspect of our strategy is close consultation with both sides of industry. I look forward to seeing that develop further over the months and years ahead.