§ 12. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Labour to state the amount of wage increases that have been claimed and granted, and for which industries, since May, 1955; and to what extent this will increase the annual wage and salary bill for all industries?
§ Mr. Iain MacleodComplete statistics of the amount of wage and salary increases are not available. Information about individual circumstances necessitates a table of figures which I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
177WEstimates of the aggregate net weekly increase in rates of wages at the end of January, 1956, resulting from increases granted between 1st June, 1955, and 31st January, 1956, amounted to about two million pounds. This figure does not include a number of important settlements made since 31st January.
Following is the table:
For manual wage earners whose wages are determined by voluntary collective agreements between employers' and workers' organisations, or by Statutory Board, Councils, etc., the table below shows by broad industry groups, estimates of the aggregate net weekly increase in rates of wages at the end of January, 1956, resulting from increases granted between 1st June, 1955, and 31st January, 1956. For clerical and other salaried workers the information available is not sufficient to form a basis for statistics.These estimates are based on the rates of wages for a full week and do not take account of variations in actual earnings arising from other factors, such as overtime or lost time and it is not practicable to estimate the extent to which they affect the annual wage bill.
CHANGES IN RATES OF WAGES—JUNE, 1955, TO JANUARY, 1956 (INCLUSIVE) Industry Group Estimated Net Weekly Increase in Rates of Wages at the end of January, 1956 £ Agriculture, forestry, fishing 247,000 Mining and quarrying 20,200 Treatment of non-metalliferous mining products other than coal 24,500 Chemicals and allied trades 20,600 Metal manufacture 38,200 Engineering, shipbuilding and electrical goods 26,500 Vehicles Metal goods not elsewhere specified Textiles 131,900 Leather, leather goods and fur 21,200 Clothing 159,200 Food, drink and tobacco 81,400 Manufactures of Wood and Cork 73,600 Paper and printing 172,400 Other manufacturing industries 45,900 Building and contracting 3,100 Gas, electricity and water 100 Transport and communication 452,800 Distributive trades 273,700 Public administration 152,400 Miscellaneous services 1,700 TOTAL £ 1,946,400