§ Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for Employment how the £42.50 a week unemployment pay of a building worker in north-east Essex compares with the average wage in north-east Essex.
§ Mr. John FraserIn October 1975 the average weekly earnings of a full-time manual man aged 21 and over in the construction industry in the South-East Region of England were about £58 outside Greater London. A separate estimate for north-east Essex is not available. I understand the quoted level of unemployment benefit would be very exceptional.