HC Deb 23 February 1972 vol 831 cc323-4W
Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the average weekly and hourly earnings of adult male workers in industry and the average earnings of all hired male farm workers, respectively, at the most recent date; what is the earnings gap and what is the variation in basic working hours for these employment categories.

Mr. Bryan

Following is the latest available information from the Department's regular earnings and hours inquiry and for agriculture:

All Industries covered United Kingdom October 1971 Agriculture* Half yearly period April to September 1971
Men manual workers 21 years and over Hired regular whole-time men 20 years and over
Average weekly earnings £30.93 £21.61
Average hours worked per week 44.7 49.1
Average hourly earnings 69.19p 44.33p
Basic working hours per week 40.0 42.0
* England and Wales, except for average weekly earning which relate to Great Britain.