§ Mr. H. Boardmanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average weekly earnings of men employed in the motor manufacturing trade; and how these compare with the wages of transport drivers as specified by the Wages Council.
§ Mr. BryanThe current rates of minimum weekly remuneration of drivers as laid down in the Road Haulage Wages Council Wages Regulation Order became operative from 12th October, 1970. Outside the London area, they range from £16.50 to £18.88 for drivers of normal 149W vehicles according to carrying capacity. In London the range is from £16.75 to £19.13.
The average earnings of drivers are considerably higher than these minimum rates. The latest figures available from the New Earnings Survey shows that in April, 1970, the average weekly earnings of lorry or van drivers whose pay was reported to be affected by the Road Haulage Wages Council Wages Regulation Order were £28.1. The comparable figure for all manual workers in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry was £33.1. In both cases the figures, which are subject to sampling errors, relate to Great Britain and to full-time men, aged 21 and over, paid for a full week.