HC Deb 10 November 1980 vol 992 cc12-3W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in income per head in (a) private industry and (b) the nationalised industries since 1975, taking 1975 as a base index of 100.

Mr. Jim Lester

The following figures are based on the average weekly earnings of adult employees in April.

April 1975=100
Index of average gross weekly earnings (a) in April 1980
Private sector
Men aged 21 and over 208
Women aged 18 and over 216
(b)(c)
Public Corporations
Men aged 21 and over 199
Women aged 18 and over 206
Source: new earnings survey.
Notes:
(a) Based on employees whose pay was not affected by absence.
(b) Nationalised industries and other publicly-constituted trading organisations. There have been minor changes in coverage in the new earnings survey between 1975 and 1980.
(c) The figures for public corporations for April 1980 are somewhat depressed in relation to those for the private sector because the 1979–80 pay round settlement for postal services is not reflected in them.