HC Deb 10 April 1978 vol 947 cc303-4W
Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the purchasing power in 1976, as a percentage of the purchasing power in 1938, of the annual remuneration of a representative selection of professors and manual workers, including university professors and miners.

Mr. Golding

In 1976 the average salary of university professors was about eight times the 1938 level. The corresponding figure for average weekly earnings of full-time manual men in all the industries and services covered by the Department of Employment's regular inquiry was about 19½ times. This inquiry does not include miners for whom comparable figures are not readily available. The change in purchasing power would depend on the change in the effect of income tax and national insurance contributions as well as the changes in retail prices. The effect of tax and national insurance contributions would depend on

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Mr. John Grant

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.