§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate made by his Department of the per- 236W centage differential between the average weekly wage in Scotland, and England and Wales; and what it was five and ten years ago, respectively.
§ Mr. BryanThe average weekly earnings of full-time manual men covered by the Department's regular inquiry in manufacturing and certain other industries were about 4 per cent. lower in Scotland than in England and Wales in October, 1970, compared with nearly 7 per cent. in 1965 and nearly 10 per cent. in 1960. The corresponding estimate for October, 1971, is not yet available. In recent years average hours worked have been only slightly lower in Scotland than in England and Wales but were two hours (4 per cent.) lower in 1960.
The New Earnings Surveys, which cover all industries, were only introduced in 1968. For manual men those pay was not affected by absence, the percentage differential was 5 in September, 1968, 4½ in April, 1970, and 3½ in April, 1971.