§ 24. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest convenient figures for comparisons of average wages in East Anglia, South West England and Scotland.
§ Mr. GoldingThe latest available estimates of average weekly earnings relate to October 1977 and manual workers in manufacturing and certain other industries covered by my Department's regular survey.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS OF FULL-TIME MANUAL WORKERS, OCTOBER 1977 IN MANUFACTURING AND CERTAIN OTHER INDUSTRIES Region Men aged 21 and over Women aged 18 and over £ £ East Anglia 70.16 44.20 South-West England 68.03 44.77 Scotland 73.53 45.84 The non-manufacturing industries covered are construction, mining (other than coal) and quarrying, gas, electricity and water supply, some transport industries, certain miscellaneous services and public administration. Industries not covered include agriculture, coalmining, railways, distribution and catering.
Differences in average earnings between regions include the effects of different occupational and industrial structures. The figures therefore do not give a precise indication of earnings for comparable work in different regions.