HC Deb 08 April 1971 vol 815 cc246-53W
Mr. Walters

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom steel industries, respectively, since 1958;

(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom paper industries, respectively, since 1958;

(3) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom chemical industries, respectively, since 1958;

Mr. Miscampbell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgium/Luxembourg and United King

Earnings
Steel industry Paper industry Chemical industry Food manufacturing industry Building and construction industry Electrical engineering industry Consumer Prices
France
Average hourly earnings n.a. 8.4 n.a. n.a. 7.9 n.a. 4.0
Federal Republic of Germany
Earnings per hour including family allowances paid directly by employers:
Males 6.6 8.1 8.1 7.8 7.9 n.a. 2.3
Females 7.9 8.6 8.7 8.8 n.a. n.a. —
Italy
Average hourly earnings including the value of payments in kind n.a. 9.0 7.9 n.a. n.a. 7.5 3.3
Netherlands
Average hourly earnings n.a. 9.5 10.0 n.a. 9.4 n.a. 3.9
Belgium*
Average daily earnings
Males n.a. 7.0 7.5 6.8 6.5 n.a. 2.4
Females n.a. 7.7 8.4 8.3 n.a. n.a. —
Luxembourg*
Average hourly earnings 5.8 n.a. 6.8 n.a. 6.7 n.a. 2.0
United Kingdom†
Average weekly earnings:
All workers 6.5 7.0 7.0 7.3 6.6 5.9 3.6
* 1958 to 1968.
† October, 1958 to October, 1970.

dom food manufacturing industry, respectively, since 1958;

(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgium/Luxembourg and and United Kingdom building and construction industries, respectively, since 1958;

(3) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgium/Luxembourg and United Kingdom electrical enginering industries, respectively, since 1958.

Mr. Bryan

Following are the average annual percentage (compound) increases in earnings for industries for which figures are available and in consumer prices for the period 1958–1969 (except where otherwise stated). It must be emphasised that owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation, it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are comparable. Because of these differences and also because social security systems vary so much from country to country, it is not possible to produce a reliable measure of changes in the "real" value of earnings.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom paper industries, respectively, since 1958;

(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom building and construction industries, respectively, since 1958;

(3) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom cement industries, respectively, since 1958;

(4) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom mechanical engineering industries, respectively, since 1958;

(5) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom electrical engineering industries, respectively, since 1958.

Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom food manufacturing industries, respectively, since 1958;

(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in manufacturing industry in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium/ Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, respectively, since 1958.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1), from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/ Luxembourg and the United Kingdom chemical industries, respectively, since 1958;

(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom electricity industries, respectively, since 1958;

(3) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom steel industries, respectively, since 1958;

(4) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom shipbuilding industries, respectively, since 1958;

(5) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and the United Kingdom motor manufacturing industries, respectively, since 1958.

Mr. Dudley Smith

I regret that this information is not available from international sources.

Mr. Miscamphell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in manufacturing industry in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom, respectively, since 1958.

Mr. Bryan

The following are the average annual percentage (compound) increases in wages and consumer prices for the period October, 1958, to October, 1970 (except where otherwise stated).

I must emphasise that owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are comparable. Because of these differences and also because social security systems vary so much from country to country, it is not possible to produce a reliable measure of changes in the "real" value of wages.

Wages. Manufacturing Consumer prices
France*:
Rates of pay per hour:
Adults only 8.1 4.1
Germany (Federal Republic)†:
Earnings per hour:
Males 8.3 2.6
Females 9.1
All workers 8.6
Italy‡:
Earnings per hour:
All workers 8.6 3.4
Netherlands:
Rates of pay per hour:
Adults only 9.0 4.2
Belgium §:
Earnings per day:
Males 6.4 2.7
Females 7.5
Luxembourg:
Not available — —
United Kingdom:
Earnings per week:
All workers 6.9 3.6
* Period September, 1958-September, 1970.

Wages non-agricultural sectors Variations in industrial coverage Consumer prices
Belgium:
Earnings per day:
Males … 96.1 Excluding commerce. 31.6
Females … 130.5
Earnings per hour:
All workers … 107.8
France:
Rates of pay per hour:
Males adults only 127.9 Excluding mining and quarrying.
Females 132.7
All workers 128.9
Earnings per hour:
All workers … 132.4 Excluding mining and quarrying, state operated transport and government services. 54.9
Federal Republic of Germany:
Earnings* per hour:
Males … 127.5 Excluding commerce and transport. 29.0
Females … 151.3
All workers … 131.5
Earnings* per week:
All workers … 124.0
Italy:
Rates of pay per hour:
All workers … 116.7 Excluding commerce and transport. 42.9
Luxembourg†:
Earnings per hour:
All workers … 77.4 Excluding commerce and transport. 21.3
Netherlands‡:
Earnings per hour:
All workers … 80.7 31.9
United Kingdom§:
Average weekly earnings:
All workers … 120.2 Excluding coal-mining, commerce and railways. 53.6
* Including family allowances paid directly by the employer.
† Period 1958–1968.
‡Period 1958–1966: includes salaried employees.
§ Period October, 1958 to October, 1970.
Sources: European Economic Community Countries: ILO Year Books.
United Kingdom: Department of Employment.

†Period August, 1958-July, 1970; earnings include family allowances paid directly by employers.

‡ Period February, 1958-February, 1970; earnings include value of payments in kind.

§ Period 4th Quarter, 1958–4th Quarter, 1970.

Mr. Haselhurst

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage rise in real wages in Great Britain between 1958 and 1970; and how this compares with the countries of the European Economic Community taken together and separately, from information available from international sources.

Mr. Bryan

Figures are not available for countries of the European Economic Community taken together for the periods requested. The following are the percentage increases in wages and consumer prices between 1958 and 1969, the latest year for which figures are available (except where otherwise stated):

It must be emphasised that owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are comparable. Because of these differences and also because social security systems vary so much from country to country it is not possible to produce a reliable measure of changes in the "real" value of wages.