§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his reply of 14th
Year March/April (a) Average weekly earnings of all non-manual male workers in Great Britain (b) Average weekly earnings of all police constables in Great Britain Proportion (b) of (a) Per cent. £ £ 1970 … … … … 34.90 Not available — 1971 … … … … 38.90 Not available — 1972 … … … … 43.40 41.93 96.6 1973 … … … … 47.80 Not available — 1974 … … … … 54.10 52.54 97.1 1975 … … … … 67.90 Not available — 1976 … … … … 81.00 79.81 98.5 Current comparable figures are not available.
The figures for police constables include the value of a provided house or rent allowance in lieu, which in March 1976 was an average maximum of £10.61, effectively tax free.
I have now made and laid before the House regulations awarding a pay increase to constables of 5 per cent. with a maximum of £4 and a minimum of £2.50 a week in accordance with phase 2 of the pay policy. The increase will be effective from 1st September 1976.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give a commitment to the police that their pay and conditions will be improved in the autumn of this year.
502WJune, he will make an approach to the Police Advisory Board to enable a police officer to have the same rights of taking up other employment when finishing his term of police duty in the same way as is now applied to all other civilian public forces and services.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNo.