§ 33. Mr. MacGregorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of all wage settlements since 1st August 1975 to the latest available date have been agreed at the maximum £6 per week limit, giving the figures for the public and private sectors separately.
§ Mr. BoothSome 6½ million employees are covered by major settlements known 481W to my Department since 1st August 1975. I estimate that some 96 per cent., 3.6 million in the public sector and 2.6 million in the private sector, have negotiated increases at or just below £6 or its equivalent for juveniles and part-timers. The remainder, all in the private sector, have settled for £5.50 or less. Some 1¼ million employees, mostly in the private sector, are covered by wages council proposals for increases in statutory minimum remuneration of £6 or just below and 2,000 employees by proposals for £5.50 or less.