§ Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the annual increase in average earnings over the past 40 years.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerAs in the reply to the hon. Member's question on 22 January 1979—[Vol. 961, c.38–39.]—the following estimates relate to the average gross weekly earnings of full-time manual men—aged 21 and over—in my Department's regular (October) inquiry into the earnings and hours of manual workers in the United Kingdom. The inquiry covers manufacturing industries, mining and quarrying—except coal—construction, gas, electricity and water, transport and communication—except railways and sea transport—public administration and certain miscellaneous services.
Percentage increase in the twelve months ended October 1946 7.2* 1947 6.1 1948 7.7 1949 3.4 1950 5.4 1951 10.4 1952 7.5 1953 6.0 1954 8.1 1955 9.1 1956 6.7 1957 5.7 1958 2.0 1959 5.5 1960 7.3 1961 5.6 1962 3.4 1963 5.6 1964 8.1 1965 8.2 1966 3.7 1967 5.3 1968 7.6 1969 7.9 1970 13.0 1971 10.3 1972 15.8 1973 14.2 1974 18.8 1975 22.5 1976 12.4 1977 8.8 1978 14.6 * increase from October 1938 to October 1946 expressed at an annual rate.