§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the minimum levels of pay prescribed by each of the wages councils immediately before their abolition; and what were each of these levels of pay as a percentage of(a) average wages in the industry and (b) the national average wage at that time. [14320]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe information requested is contained in the table:
Minimum monthly rate Minimum rates as percentage of: £ Average wages in industry National average wage Aerated waters 3.05 — 39 Boot and shoe repairing 3.02 62.9 38.6 Button manufacturing 2.66 — 34 Clothing manufacturing 2.7166 65.6 34.7 Coffin furniture and cerement making 3.20 — 40.9 Cotton waste reclamation 2.78 — 35.5 Fur 2.85 — 36.4 General waste materials reclamation 2.675 56.8 34.2 Hairdressing undertaking 2.88 67 36.8 Hat, cap and millinery 2.76 59.9 35.3 Laundry 2.98 65.1 38.1 Licensed non-residential establishment 3.01 57.3 38.4 Licensed residential establishment and licensed restaurant 2.92 53.9 37.3 Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods 2.83 75.3 36.1 Made-up textiles 2.70 61.5 34.5 Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower 2.73 — 34.9 Perambulator and invalid carriage 3.13 — 40 Retail bespoke tailoring 3.20 61.3 40.9 Retail food and allied trades 3.175 59.7 40.6 Retail trades (non-food) 3.155 57.7 40.3 Rope twine and net 2.755 71.2 35.2 Sack and bag 2.745 — 35.1 Toy manufacturing 2.71 59.8 34.6 Unlicensed place of refreshment 2.99 61.9 38.2 Average earnings figures are not available for certain of the smaller councils.