§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Labour in view of the correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth from a branch of the National Graphical Association, showing that wages are mostly around 15 guineas per week in the printing industry, on what data he based his calculation that average wages were £28 6s. 1d.; and what extra benefits the Daily Mirror employees who went on unofficial strike have received as a result of that action.
§ Mr. GunterThe figure of £28 6s. 1d., I gave the hon. Member on 31st October, is the average earnings of men manual workers in newspaper and periodical printing and publishing in April, 1966 for an average working week of 44.8 hours. The figure of 15 guineas a week, referred to by the hon. Member, appears to relate to the minimum weekly rate, including cost of living bonus, for a 40-hour week for certain classes of men manual workers in general printing.
I understand that the Joint Committee set up to examine the dispute at the Daily Mirror reported that the delivery drivers who worked extra time on the night of 30th September were entitled to the additional payment of one hour's overtime. This was accepted by both management and trade union.—[Vol. 735, c. 12–13.]