§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he can state, since the beginning of 1922, the changes of rates of wages reported to his Department; and what is the weekly reductions and the number of workpeople who have had their weekly rates of pay reduced?
§ Sir M. BARLOWIn the industries for which statistics are compiled by the Ministry of Labour, the changes in rates of wages reported to the Department to have taken effect from 1st January last to the end of May resulted in a net reduction of, approximately, £2,316,700 in the weekly full-time rates of wages of 6,980,000 workpeople, and a net increase of, approximately, £3,190 in the weekly rates of 17,500 workpeople. Detailed information as to these changes is published each month in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the June issue, which gives, on page 265, an analysis by groups of industries of the figures for January to May. The figures exclude changes affecting Government employés, 1063W police, agricultural labourers, domestic servants, shop assistants and clerks.