HC Deb 11 December 1968 vol 775 cc167-8W
124. Mr. James Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consideration she has given to setting up an Industrial Training Board for the fishing industry; and whether she will make a statement.

Mr. Hattersley

My right hon. Friend the then Minister of Labour, after consulting the interested organisations, announced on 13th November, 1967 that he would not for the time being proceed with the proposal to set up an industrial training board for the fishing industry. He considered that improvements in the training of fishermen could be secured through existing powers and training arrangements. We are co-operating with the various interests concerned to secure such improvements.

At the same time, we are keeping the question of a training board under review in the light of progress made in achieving by other statutory and voluntary

MANUAL WORKERS COVERED BY THE HALF-YEARLY INQUIRIES INTO EARNINGS AND HOURS CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY
All industries and services covered*
Men (21 years and over) Women (18 years and over) classed as full-time
Average weekly earnings including overtime Average actual hours worked Average hourly earnings Average weekly earnings including overtime Average actual hours worked Average hourly earnings
£ s. d. d. £ s. d. d.
October, 1964 18 2 2 47.7 91.1 8 19 1 39.4 54.5
April, 1968† 22 5 3 46.2 115.6 10 18 10 38.4 68.4
Percentage increase in average weekly gross earnings
(1) actual increase 22.9 — — 22.2 — —
(2) estimated increase after adjustment for the rise in the Index of Retail Prices during the period 6.3 — — 5.7 — —
* All manufacturing industries; mining and quarrying (except coal); construction; gas, electricity and water; transport and communication (except railways and London Transport): public administration and certain miscellaneous services.
† The latest date for which information is available.

Between October, 1964, and April, 1968, the normal weekly hours of men manual workers in the industries and services covered by the earnings inquiry conducted by the Department of Employment and Productivity decreased from 41. 9 to 40. 1. The comparable reduction for women was from 42. 1 to 40. 2.

means the objectives of the Industrial Training Act.