HC Deb 02 July 1981 vol 7 cc446-7W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a comparison of the average weekly rates and/or earnings for April 1981 for men aged 17, 19 and 21 years and women aged 17, 19 and 21 years with the statutory minimum rates for a 40-hour week laid down by the wages councils.

Mr. Waddington

I regret that the information on earnings and weekly rates needed for this comparison is not available.

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the statutory minimum rate for a 40-hour week in each wages council for April 1981 for men aged 17, 19 and 21 years and women aged 17, 18 and 21 years.

Mr. Waddington

The following table gives the minimum weekly rates laid down by each wages council at 30 April 1981 for its lowest paid category of workers, excluding apprentices and learners.

Weekly minimum rate for 40 hours at 30 April 1981
Age 17

years

Age 19

years

Age 21

years

Wages Council
Aerated Waters (England and Wales) 37.00 54.00 54.00
Aerated Waters (Scotland) 41.20 54.00 54.00
Boot and Shoe Repairing 38.10 46.80 55.50
Button Manufacturing 41.20 51.60 51.60
Coffin Furniture and Cerement making 47.20 57.2 57.20
Corset 42.34 49.10 54.34
Cotton Waste Reclamation 44.00 51.60 51.60
Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (England and Wales) 42.16 54.42 54.42
Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (Scotland) 42.15 54.42 54.42

Age 17

years

Age 19

years

Age 21

years

Rax and Hemp 39.94 52.31 52.31
Fur 21.00 25.50 27.50
General Waste Materials Reclamation 40.80 50.00 50.00
Hairdressing Undertakings 30.00 30.00 37.00
Hat, Cap and Millinery* 41.73 51.67 51.67
Lace Finishing 40.80 48.40 48.40
Laundry 50.40 56.00 56.00
Licensed Non-residential Establishment† 40.58 50.73 50.73
Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant 39.20 48.80 48.80
Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods, etc. 35.00 50.00 50.00
Made-up Textiles 41.20 49.20 49.20
Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower 43.20 50.60 50.60
Perambulator and Invalid Carriage* 43.34 56.80 56.80
Ready-made and Wholesale Bespoke Tailoring 42.92 49.89 54.34
Retail Bespoke Tailoring‡ 44.00 58.10 58.10
Retail Food and Allied Trades 42.55 56.70 56.70
Retail Non-Food 40.04 57.20 57.20
Rope, Twine and Net 37.50 50.00 50.00
Rubber Proofed Garment Making 40.76 49.61 54.33
Sack and Bag 40.80 50.00 50.00
Shirtmaking 42.43 49.76 54.34
Toy Manufacturing 35.04 49.00 49.00
Unlicensed Place of Refreshment 38.25 51.00 51.00
Wholesale Mantle and Costume 48.90 54.34 54.34
* Minimum rate is for a 39 hour week.
† Minimum rate when employer provides lodging.
‡ Minimum rates, are for a worker in the second and after the third year of employment.