Far East (Social Security)

HC Deb 17 November 1976 vol 919 cc590-2W

Sir Anthony Royle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail the comparative incomes and social benefits of workers in manufacturing industry in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.

Mr. Evan Luard

The information requested is as follows:

	Comparative hourly wage rates: March 1976
	HK Dollars	Comparative Indexes
Hong Kong.	3.76	100
Japan	13.36†	335
South Korea.	2.42†	64
Philippines	1.42*	38
Taiwan	2.58	69
Singapore	Not available	Not available
* June 1976 figure.
† Includes salaried employees and family allowances.

In the field of social security, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan all have schemes which provide benefits in cases of old age, invalidity and death. Hong Gong has no statutory contributory scheme but its non-contributory scheme, financed from general revenue and providing for the payment of public assistance and disability and infirmity allowances, compares favourably with contributory schemes in neighbouring Asian countries.

Sir Anthony Royle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail the figures of manufacturing industry unemployment in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom for the years 1974, 1975 and 1976: what was the annual rate of inflation in 1974, 1975 and 1976 for Hong Kong and the United Kingdom; and what was the percentage of the GNP or gross Government expenditure, including nationalised industries, compared with the private sector in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Luard

I regret that figures for the number of unemployed in the manufacturing industry in Hong Kong are not available. The figures for the United Kingdom are as follows:

1974 (November)	166,000
1975 (December)	328,000
1976 (August)	350,000

The annual rate of inflation in Hong Kong, based on the Consumer Price Index, and United Kingdom, based on the Retail Price Index, is as follows:

	1974 per cent
Hong Kong	14.0
United Kingdom	16.9

	1975
Hong Kong	1.0
United Kingdom	21.7

	1976
Hong Kong	4.0
United Kingdom	14.3

The percentage of gross government expenditure as a percentage of the gross domestic product is as follows:

	1974 per cent.
Hong Kong	18
United Kingdom	57

	1975
Hong Kong	19
United Kingdom	58

	1976
Hong Kong	18 (estimated)
United Kingdom	Not available