§ Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will specify the prevailing rate of the average wage in the regions of Scotland, England and Wales.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe latest information available is derived from the regular October inquiry into the earnings and hours of manual workers:
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS, MEN MANUAL WORKERS, AGED 21 YEARS AND OVER. ALL INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES COVERED. OCTOBER 1972 Standard Region £ South East 37.18 East Anglia 34.68 South West 33.50 West Midlands 37.21 East Midlands 34.26 Yorkshire and Humberside 33.64 North West 35.48 North 35.12 Wales 35.61 Scotland 34.93 Comparisons of average earnings for different areas are affected by influences such as variation in the pattern of industry and they may not therefore give a precise indication of differences in earnings for comparable work.