HC Deb 14 January 1985 vol 71 cc33-4W
Mr. Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to ways of providing greater encouragement to industry to expand apprenticeship training schemes for young people with particular regard to high technology jobs; whether he has any proposals to put to Parliament on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average wage of (a) 16 to 17-year-old women and men, (b) 18 to 20-year-old women and men, (c) over 21-year-old women and men in 1979 and in 1984; what was the percentage rise over the period; what was the unemployment figure for each group in 1979 and 1984; and what was the percentage rise over the period.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The information from the new earnings survey in April each year is as follows:

the last 10 years for which figures are available in (i) each member state of the EEC and (ii) the United States of America.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The available information relates to manufacturing industry. Yearly increases in real hourly earnings in manufacturing are contained in table 9.2 of 'OECD Economic Outlook: Historical Statistics 1960–82' (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris 1984), a copy of which is in the Library. The latest information on total hourly labour costs is shown in the following table:

Mr. Peter Morrison

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.