§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the trade unions have resubmitted to the Road Haulage Wages Council their claim for an all-round pay rise of £1 a week notwithstanding the recent report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if he will make a statement on the policy of the Government with regard to this claim in the light of the prices and incomes policy in post-devaluation conditions.
§ Mr. Hattersley:I understand that the Road Haulage Wages Council on 14th December, 1967, discussed a motion from the workers' side for an increase in the statutory minimum remuneration but reached no decision. Until proposals are formulated and communicated to my
TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES COVERED BY THE GATESHEAD EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND IN THE NORATHERN REGION Gateshead Men Boys Women Girls Total Percentage rate for the Tyneside area which includes Gateshead 11th December, 1967 (provisional) 1,692 96 155 25 1,968 4.6 7th December, 1964 1,122 70 156 9 1,357 3.1 9th December, 1963 1,618 170 444 24 2,256 4.8 10th December, 1951 1,019 18 516 27 1,580 4.1 Northern region Men Boys Women Girls Total Percentage rate 11th December, 1967 (provisional) 47,409 2,086 7,782 1,056 39,737 4.4 7th December, 1964 29,220 1,679 7,782 1,056 39,737 3.0 9th December, 1963 40,158 3,551 12,228 1,837 57,774 4. 10th December, 1951 16,996 414 10,778 1,172 29,360 2.4 508W
Percentage changes in the total numbers registered as unemployed were:— Gateshead Northern region December, 1951 to December, 1963 … … … +42.8 +96.8 December, 1963 to December, 1964 … … … -39.8 +31.2 December, 1964 to December, 1967 … … … +45.0 +47.8 At 6th December, 1967 the provisional numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at Gateshead and in the Northern region were 326 and 8,422 respectively. right hon. Friend by the Council it would be inappropriate for me to make a statement.