HC Deb 17 October 1968 vol 770 cc164-5W
53. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what is the average industrial and agricultural wage, respectively, for men over 21 years of age in Wales; and how this compares with the English figures.

Mr. Fernyhough

In April, 1968, the latest date for which figures are available, the average weekly earnings of male manual workers, 21 years and over, in the industries covered by the Department's half-yearly inquiries were £21 17s. 9d. in Wales and £22 8s. 8d. in England. As the hon. Member knows, the industrial composition of the two countries differs.

Agriculture is not included in the Department's half-yearly inquiries, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food informs me that, for male agricultural workers, 20 years and over, the average weekly earnings were £14 13s. 7d. in Wales and £15 6s. 1d. in England in the year ended 31st March, 1968. The earnings of agricultural workers include the value of allowances in kind.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what are the average earnings in York and nationally in the chocolate and confectionery, railway, engineering and catering industries.

Mr. Harold Walker

Information is not available about earnings in individual industries in local areas. National figures of average earnings are compiled for cocoa, chocolate and confectionery manufacture, engineering and the railways. At present, however, no figures are collected for catering.

Following is the information available for Yorkshire and Humberside region and for the country as a whole:

ADULT MALE MANUAL WORKERS
Average weekly earnings in April, 1968
Industry (group) Yorkshire and Humher side region Nationally
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery 20 16 7 21 2 9*
Engineering and electrical goods 20 16 6 22 3 8*
Railways (all wages staff) Not available 21 17 0†
* United Kingdom: derived from the Department's April and October enquiries.
† Derived from the British Rail Census of Staff: April, 1968.