HC Deb 18 July 1980 vol 988 c735W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will provide a list of fatal and serious accident figures for men working on pipelaying barges in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea from 1969–1979.

Mr. Mayhew

[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1980, c. 471]: Up to 15 June 1977 all such accidents have been reportable to the United Kingdom authorities, only if they had occurred on United Kingdom registered pipelaying barges, of which there were none. Since 15 June 1977 all such accidents have been reportable to the United Kingdom authorities. The numbers reported have been:

1977 (from 15 June) 1978 1979
Fatal 1 0 0
Serious 1 1 0

RELATIVE EARNINGS OF EMPLOYEES AGED UNDER 18
Gross average "basic"* weekly earnings of full-time employees† aged under 18‡ as a percentage of those of full-time employees aged 18 and over
April 1973§ April 1974 April 1979
Males
Manual employees 45.1 51.8 54.0
Non-manual employees 26.8 31.4 35.0
Females
Manual employees 60.1 68.6 67.7
Non-manual employees 46.1 53.0 54.2

Source: New Earnings Survey.

* Total earnings less overtime earnings, less payments by results and similar incentive payments, less shift, etc., premium. This will approximate to earnings arising from basic time rates. It will, however, also include a number of allowances (e.g. London weighting).

† Whose earnings were not affected by absence.

‡ Age was measured as at April in 1973, but as at the preceding January in 1974 and 1979.

§ Although the school leaving age was raised to 16 with effect from 9 September 1972, the figures for this date will reflect the earnings of some employees aged under 16.