§ Mr. George Gardinerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for every year since 1945 the value of a police constable's pay as a percentage of average industrial earnings.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesDirectly comparable figures back to 1945 are not available.
Police Council earnings surveys show that the average weekly earnings of uniform police constables in Great Britain in 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1977 were £42.43, £54, £80.72 and £82.36 respectively. These figures include overtime payments and the value of a provided house or rent allowance in lieu.
The average weekly earnings for full-time male manual workers aged over 21 in manufacturing industry in Great Britain for the same periods were £34.50, £45.10, £67.40 and £74.20.
The earnings of uniformed police constables were thus 23 per cent., 19.7 per cent., 19.8 per cent. and 11 per cent. greater than these industrial earnings figures in these years.