Mr. Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the amount of salary in weekly averages paid to policemen in the years 1945, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively; and if he will also give comparable figures for men working in the manufacturing industry.
§ Dr. SummerskillDirectly comparable figures are not available. But I am able to tell my hon. Friend that in the financial years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76 the average weekly pay, including overtime, of police officers of all ranks in England and Wales was £45, £56, and £69.70 respectively. In addition, all police officers are entitled to free quarters or a tax-free rent allowance in lieu. In March298W 1976 a survey showed the average value of rent allowance to constables in England and Wales to be £10.78 a week, tax-free. Separate figures are not available for male officers; nor is information available for 1945.
The average earnings for male manual workers aged over 21 in the manufacturing industry in Great Britain were as follows:
Calendar year Average weekly earnings 1945 (for whole of UK) 6.27 1973 … … 39.9 1974 … … 45.1 1975 … … 56.6 1976 (estimated) … … 67.4 Comparable figures covering all male workers in the manufacturing industry are not available.