§ 21. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates are available of the average working week, working year and working life for males and females; and if he will give a breakdown in the Official Report.
§ Mr. GoldingThe New Earnings Survey provides estimates, for April each year, of average normal basic hours and overtime hours per week separately for full-time manual and non-manual men and women in all industries. In addition, for full-time manual men and women, the Department's annual October survey in manufacturing and certain other industries provides estimates of total hours per 89W week. Some information on annual hours estimates is provided, for certain years, by surveys of labour costs in index of production and those service industries which are included in the surveys. Working life estimates are not made by my Department.
The most recent estimates published in the September and October 1977 issues of the Department of Employment Gazette include:
Average weekly hours, April 1977 Full-time men (21 and over) Manual 45.7 Non-manual 38.7 Women (18 and over) Manual 39.4 Non-manual 36.7 Average annual hours in manufacturing industries 1975 All employees—male and female—in manufacturing industries: Manual 1,832 Non-manual 1,765