HC Deb 18 January 1979 vol 960 cc851-5W
Mr. Pattie

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the percentage increase in unit labour costs in manufacturing in the following periods (a) July 1945 to October 1951, (b) October 1951 to October 1964, (c) October 1964 to June 1970, (d) June 1970 to February 1974, (e) February 1974 to the latest available date, (f) the latest 12-month period and (g) the latest six-month period.

Mr. Golding:

Monthly figures for labour costs per unit of output in manufacturing are available for wages and salaries which form about 90 per cent. of total labour costs, and these are used in the first table below. The second table shows movements in the annual indices for total labour costs together with comparable data for wages and salaries per unit of output.

Changes in wages and salaries per unit of output in United Kingdom manufacturing:
Per cent
July 1945–October 1951 *
October 1951–October 1964 *
October 1964–June 1970 31
June 1970–February 1974 33
February 1974–September 1978 112
September 1977–September 1978 13
March 1978–September 1978 5

Changes in labour costs per unit of output [...] United Kingdom manufacturing:
Wages and salaries per cent. Labour costs Per cent.
1945–1951 * *
1951–1964 53 56
1964–1970 32 32
1970–1974 49 51
1974–1977 66 70
*Not available.

Notes:

  1. 1. Total labour costs comprise gross wages and salaries, employers' contributions to national insurance, other contributions, e.g. to employees' pension funds less payments received, for example the regional employment premium.
  2. 2. The monthly and annual indices of wage-and salaries per unit of output in manufacturing include an allowance for benefits in kind received by employees.

Mr. Pattie

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the index of unit labour cost in manufacturing for each year from 1970 to 1977, and the index for the first half of 1978, based on 1970=100, for the following countries: each member of the EEC, the United States of America, Canada and Japan respectively.

Mr. Golding:

International comparisons of unit labour costs in manufacturing are only possible in terms of wages and salaries per unit of output; figures on this basis are given in the table below. Because they are compiled according to different national definitions, the figures are not fully comparable.

Figures are not available for the EEC countries excluded from the table.

WAGES AND SALARIES PER UNIT OF OUTPUT IN MANUFACTURING
1970=100
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 Average January to June 1978
United Kingdom … … … … 100 109 114 120 149 197 224 247 272
Germany (FR) (1) … … … … 100 109 112 118 133 142 141 145 149
United States … … … … 100 101 101 104 114 127 130 138 147
Canada … … … … 100 100 104 109 123 142 154 158 168
Japan (2) … … … … 100 112 119 122 159 193 192 199 197
NOTES:
(1) Including mining.
(2) All industries.
Sources:
Department of Employment Gazette.
OECD—Main Economic Indicators.