§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Transport what research is at present being undertaken into life-
ENGINEERING Average of recognised time rates and normal weekly hours in 16 principal centres in the United Kingdom Date Weekly rates in monetary terms Normal weekly hours Weekly rates expressed as percentage of level at July, 1914=100 Patternmakers Fitters and Turners Labourers Patternmakers Fitters and Turners Labourers s. d. s. d. s. d. per cent. per cent. per cent. July, 1914 42 1 38 11 22 10 53 or 54 100 100 100 31st December, 1932 63 4 59 1 42 1 47 150 152 184 31st December, 1938 72 3 67 3 50 4 47 172 173 220 31st December, 1948 126 7 108 2 92 4 44 301 278 404 5th March., 1964 235 4 212 8 180 9 42 559 546 792 NOTE: Rates for tool fitters are not available.
40Wrafts, as carried by ships and aircraft, and especially into their liability to capsize in very heavy seas.
§ Mr. MarplesResearch by the manufacturers of life-rafts is a continuous process and my Department keeps in close touch with all developments. Exensive tests of stability were arranged by my Department in 1962. At present research is being undertaken into operation at low temperatures, durability of new fabrics and location by radar.