HC Deb 02 December 1964 vol 703 cc89-90W
Mr. Bishop

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the comparative figures for the increase in wages and salaries for Great Britain and Western European countries since 1959.

Mr. MacDermot

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published national series of hourly earnings of wage earners in manufacturing industries in index form (1953=100) from which the following approximate percentage increases between 1959 and 1963 have been derived:

  • Belgium, 26, includes mining and transport. France, 37, includes construction, distribution and some transport.
  • Italy, 53.
  • Netherlands, 1963 data not available.
  • Norway, 28, males only; includes mining.
  • Sweden, 31, includes mining.
  • United Kingdom, 25, males only.
  • West Germany, 43, males only; includes mining public utilities and construction.

All figures giving international comparisons of movements in wages and earnings must be treated with great caution, partly because of differences in the definition, content and coverage of the figures and also because different countries have different methods of providing ancillary benefits, e.g. social security payments. Such benefits vary not only in scale, but also in the method by which they are financed.