§ Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, on the basis of the New Earnings Survey or other relevant figures, he will publish estimates of earnings levels in nationalised industries relative to those in the private sector for 1970, or the earliest subsequent year for which data are available, 1975 and 1980 in the form of index numbers, 1970 = 100, for each major industry; and if he will publish estimates for per capita earnings increases in the 1980–81 wage round in those industries and in manufacturing industry.
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§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe following table expresses the average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence in those industries which are wholly or predominantly nationalised as a
Average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence in individual industries relative to the corresponding average earnings of all employees in the private sector, 1970=100
Men aged 21 and over Women aged 18 and over Industry Minimum List Heading* April 1970 April 1975 April 1980 April 1970 April 1975 April 1980 coal-mining 101 100 138 135 100 111 112 Iron and Steel (General) and Steel Tubes 311 & 312 100 104 98 100 113 98 Gas 601 100 108 111 100 102 100 Electricity 602 100 106 122 100 92 95 Water 603 100 111 106 100 100 97 Railways 701 100 109 98 100 99 86 Road Passenger Transport 702 100 118 †l05 100 93 †82 Air Transport 707 100 100 94 100 102 100 Postal Services and Telecommunications 708 100 107 †96 100 102 †93 Source: New Earnings Survey * Based on Standard Industrial Classification, 1968. † The effects of the 1980 agreements affecting Post Office manipulative grades and London Transport drivers and conductors were not reflected in the April 1980 survey. Estimates of changes in average earnings during the 1980–81 pay round are only available at present from the monthly sample survey of average earnings at broad industrial order level up to April 1981 as follows:
Changes in average earnings of all employees in the year to April 1981* per cent. Milling and quarrying 9.8 Metal manufacture 13.9 Gas, water and electricity 15.1 Transport and communications 14.7 Manufacturing industries 11.9 Source: Employment Gazette, June 1981, Table 5.3 * The timing of Easter in relation to the survey week is likely to have depressed earnings in some industries in April 1981 relative to the position in April 1981. Settlements in the 1979–80 pay round which came into payment after April 1980 will be reflected in the changes as well as settlements in the 1980–81 pay round which came into payment by April 1981.
Changes in relative average earnings may reflect changes in the structure of employment, the incidence of overtime working, and so on, as well as changes in rates of pay for comparable jobs. Also, as the figures relate to the position in April each year, changes in the timing of pay settlements may affect the comparability of the figures from year to year.