§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the national average of wages of male 27W manual workers in 1970 and at the latest stated date; and what has been the percentage increase before tax.
§ Mr. BoothThe average gross weekly earnings of full-time manual men, aged 21 and over, covered by my Department's regular annual inquiry into the earnings and hours of manual workers in manufacturing and certain other industries* in the United Kingdom, were £28.05 in October 1970 and £48.63 in October 1974. an increase of 73.4 per cent.
*The industries covered are manufacturing; mining and quarrying, except coal mining; construction; gas; electricity; and water, transport and communication, except railways and sea transport; public administration; and certain miscellaneous services.