§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will circulate a table in the Official Report showing (a) the estimated average increase in earnings at British Leyland since October 1978, (b) the average increase in earnings generally over the same period, (c) the increase in the rate of inflation over this period, (d) the increase in earnings on the latest available month and (e) the proposed increase in wages at British Leyland.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI have been asked to reply.
Questions on earnings at British Leyland should be addressed to the board of the company. The other information requested is as follows:
- (b) The increase in the index of average earnings, which covers all employees, both manual and non-manual, between October 1978 and September 1980 (the latest month for which information is available) was 43 per cent. The September 1980 figure was inflated by back pay and excluding this the increase was approximately 40 per cent.
- (c) The increase in the retail prices index between October 1978 and September 1980 was 35.2 per cent.
- (d) The average earnings index in September 1980 was 3.4 per cent. higher than in August, although about two thirds of this increase comprised back pay.