§ Mr. Peter Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to keep his Department in touch with developments in microelectronics and their possible employment consequences.
§ Mr. Jim LesterA study group, set up in my Deptartment in July 1978, published this week its report on the manpower implications of microelectronic technology. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons. My Department will continue to monitor developments in this area. To this end my noble Friend the Minister of State has been asked to take special responsibility for the Department's interest in microelectronics and to consider what further Government action is
Item Price of item as a percentage of gross earnings in October 1945 Price of item as a percentage of gross earnings in October 1979 Price of item if increase equals rise in gross earnings between October 1945 and October 1979 1 bottle of whisky … … 21.3 4.9 £20.60 1 pint of beer … … 0.9 0.4 £0.85 20 cigarettes … … 1.7 0.7 £1.60 Notes: (a) Gross earnings relate to full-time men aged 21 and over, in manufacturing and certain other industries covered by the Department of Employment regular inquiry into earnings of manual workers. The estimate of October 1979 has been prepared by updating the results of the October 1978 survey by the monthly index of average earnings. (b) The calculations involve a substantial degree of approximation. Moreover no allowances have been made for changes in quality over the period in question. Interpretation of the data should take these qualifications into account. (c) The beer price relates to 1 pint of bitter in a public bar.