§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Labour what is the latest estimated number of employees known to have received income increases since 1st January; what percentage of these are classified as salary earners; and how this figure compares with the estimated percentage of all employees who are classified as salary earners.
§ Mr. HattersleyBetween 1st January and 28th February, 1967 it is estimated that increases in full-time weekly rates of wages, or minimum entitlements, affected nearly 3½ million manual workers. About two-thirds of this total are in engineering where workers whose earnings are above the new minimum earnings level, established by the January changes, are not entitled to an increase under the provisions of the national collective agreement. The corresponding information about salary changes is not available.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Labour what is the latest estimated number of employees directly and indirectly affected by orders restricting income increases under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act; and what percentage of these are classified as salary earners.
§ Mr. HattersleyI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Duchy to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) on 17th March, 1967. Since that date two further orders have been made under Section 29 of the Prices and Incomes
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TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN WHOSE LAST EMPLOYMENT WAS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Men Boys Women Girls Total Temporarily Stopped included in total 13th March, 1967 … 98,607 2,338 647 60 101,652 210 14th March, 1966 … 44,561 1,360 377 34 46,332 164 8th March, 1965 … 51,031 1,559 468 40 53,098 1,062 16th March, 1964 … 59,554 1,888 496 50 61,988 223 11th March, 1963 … 139,762 4,448 613 105 144,928 13,936 Act covering approximately 530 employees. This brings the total of employees directly affected by orders under Sections 28 and 29 of the Prices and Incomes Act to approximately 29,400. I have no reliable information on the number of employees indirectly affected or on those who may be classified as salary earners.—[Vol. 743, c. 164–6.]
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Labour what is the latest estimated number of employees designated directly and by implication in schedules of orders issued under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act; how many of these are trade unionists; and how these figures compare with the estimated percentage of trade unionists amongst all employees.
§ Mr. HattersleyOn the number of workers directly and indirectly affected by Orders restricting income increases I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to his earlier Question. The Orders that have been made affect both members of trade unions and non-unionists. I do not have sufficient information available to provide an estimate of the number who are members of trade unions. The estimated percentage of trade unionists amongst all employees was about 41 per cent. in 1965, the latest year for which estimates of trade union membership are available.