§ Mr. Fieldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the basis for his statement in paragraph 1.19 of his autumn statement 1982 that in the 1981–82 pay round, wage settlements averaged about 7 per cent.; and what figures are implied for public and private sector earnings in the assumption given to the Government Actuary that average earnings for the whole economy in the tax year 1983–84 will be 6½ per cent. higher than in 1982–83.
§ Mr. BrittanThe 7 per cent. figure for the average level of wage settlements in the 1981–82 pay round is an estimate based on a number of sources. It is consistent, for example, with the CBI Pay Databank. The figure of 6½ per cent. for the increase in average earnings in the tax year 1983–84 was provided as a working assumption to the Government Actuary. It was not broken down between public and private sectors as such details were not required.