§ Mr. Bishopasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the comparative figures for the increase in wages and salaries and prices in Great Britain and Western European countries since 1964.
§ Mr. HigginsThe information is given in the table below. The figures for wages and salaries are taken from the O.E.C.D. publication on national accounts and relate to the total wages and salaries paid. They thus include the effect of any changes in the size of the labour force.
PERCENTAGE INCREASE 1964–1968 Total wages and salaries Consumer prices United Kingdom … 28 17* France … 39 13 West Germany … 27† 10 Italy … 34‡ 12 Netherlands … 44 19 Norway … 41 16 Sweden … 41 19 * Based on the index of retail prices. † Includes pay and allowances of the armed forces. ‡ Includes pay and allowances of the armed forces and employers' contributions to social security.