HC Deb 22 May 1969 vol 784 cc111-2W
46. Mr. Donald Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what were the norms for increases in earnings and dividends over the last 12 months; and what increases actually took place.

Mr. Harold Walker

The Government's policy for earnings and dividend increases, based essentially on a 3½ per cent. ceiling, is set out fully in the White Paper "Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy in 1968 and 1969" (Cmnd. 3590).

The latest earnings figures are for February, 1969. Between March, 1968 and February, 1969 earnings rose by 5½ per cent. Figures of aggregate dividend increases reflecting the performance of the dividend restraint scheme are not yet available.