HC Deb 02 May 1969 vol 782 cc289-90W
Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) if she has considered the estimate, a copy of which has been sent to her, that the all-age median salary for secretaries and shorthand typists in London has risen by 9.4 per cent. in the year ended 28th February; how many increases in proposed secretarial salaries in London have been notified to her; what percentage in earnings and rates they involved; and by what means she assesses and authenticates increases in productivity;

(2) if she is satisfied that the incomes policy is being observed in relation to secretarial salaries in London; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Harold Walker

The sample survey, to which the hon. Member refers, makes the point that the increase for the

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE NUNEATON, TAMWORTH, COVENTRY AND COLESHILL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
Nuneaton Tamworth Coventry* Coleshill*
1964
January … … … 1.4 0.8 1.4 1.0
February … … … 1.1 0.9 1.2 1.2
March … … … 0.8 0.6 1.1 1.1
April … … … … 0.8 0.5 1.1 0.7
May … … … … 1.2 0.4 1.7 1.0
June … … … … 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.9
July … … … … 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.4
August … … … 1.9 0.8 1.1 0.5
September … … … 0.9 0.4 1.0 0.7
October … … … 0.7 0.4 1.2 0.8
November … … … 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.4
December … … … 0.9 0.5 1.5 0.6
1965
January … … … 0.9 0.5 1.0 0.6
February … … … 0.9 0.5 0.8 0.7
March … … … 1.5 1.5 2.7 4.0
April … … … … 2.1 0.7 1.9 1.9
May … … … … 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.5
June … … … … 1.8 0.6 0.9 0.7
July … … … … 1.0 0.5 0.8 1.0
August … … … 2.2 1.9 1.2 7.2
September … … … 1.6 0.7 1.1 0.7
October … … … 1.3 0.7 2.0 0.8
November … … … 0.9 0.9 1.0 0.7
December … … … 1.0 0.6 0.9 0.6
1966
January … … … 1.0 0.5 0.9 1.0
February … … … 1.1 0.6 0.8 1.8
March … … … 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.5
April … … … … 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.5
May … … … … 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.5
June … … … … 0.8 0.4 0.7 0.6

secretarial group in London is not much above the increase in earnings generally. Increases for these occupations are normally notified to my Department as a part of settlements for larger clerical groups. There have been 20 such notifications in the past six months, all satisfying the incomes policy and consequently approved. But many workers in these occupations are employed in small groups normally outside the early warning arrangements. Reports Nos. 74, 86 and 106 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes give general guidance on the measurement of clerical productivity.