§ 42. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Transport if, in relation to his future consideration of applications to close considerable sections of line under the railway plan and to enable the economic factors to be assessed, he will state the cost of wages and salaries in British Railways for 1951 and 1962, respectively, and the proportions of the total operating costs for labour, and the average wage for each year.
§ Mr. MarplesAs is shown in the Annual Reports of the British Transport Commissions, the average earnings of the adult male railwaymen for the sample week in 1951 were £7 18s. 6d. and in 1961 £14 14s. 0d. The comparable figure for 1962 has not yet been published. I have asked the British Railways Board if it can provide my hon. Friend with the 1962 figure and also, as the responsible undertaking with the other information he is seeking.