HC Deb 23 January 1970 vol 794 cc208-9W
Dame Joan Vickers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how the average wages for industrial and non-industrial workers compare with those earned in the Common Market countries, from information available to her from international sources.

Mr. Harold Walker

The following information has been extracted from the series published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities showing the hourly earnings of manual workers in manufacturing industries in the six member countries. The United Kingdom data have been adjusted as far as possible to align with E.E.C. definitions. However, owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are comparable.

Similar information for non-manual workers is not available.

HOURLY EARNINGS OF MANUAL WORKERS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN OCTOBER, 1968
Germany (Federal Republic) Deutsche Marks France* Italy Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg United Kingdom
French Francs Lire Florins Belgian Francs Luxembourg Francs Pence
Males 5.30 5.14 493 4.07 59.04 75.11 116.6
Females 3.69 3.94 364 2.47 39.79 41.56 68.3
All Workers 4.90 4.79 456 3.83 54.22 73.22 105.8
* Data relate to September, 1968.

Sources:

EEC Countries: Statistical Office of the European Communities' "Social Statistics" series No. 5.1969.

United Kingdom: Department of Employment and Productivity.