§ Q16. Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister which Department is primarily responsible for monitoring the operation of the social contract, so far as the level of wage settlements is concerned.
§ The Prime MinisterAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has told the House on a number of occasions the Government do not operate a detailed monitoring system on adherence to the pay guidelines. The Department of Employment publishes details of basic rates in its monthly publication "Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work" and further statistics on wage rates and earnings are available in theDepartment of Employment Gazette and the annual New Earnings Survey.