§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the growth in average earnings each quarter since the first quarter of 1982; and what part of the growth is due to a change in the number of hours worked.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe following table is based on the monthly average earnings index adjusted for temporary factors such as back pay. The estimates of changes in hours worked are provisional, being based on reported changes in overtime and short-time working in manufacturing industry.
Underlying percentage increase in average earnings over comparable quarter a year earlier Estimated percentage points at (a) accounted for by changes in hours worked 1982 First quarter 10¾ 1 Second quarter 10 ¾ Third quarter 9 ½ Fourth quarter 8½ ¼ 1983 First quarter 8 — Second quarter45 7½ — Third quarter 7¾ ½ Fourth quarter 7¾ ¾
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe latest available information which compares the previous earnings of the unemployed with the average
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Training opportunities scheme courses at Castle Bromwich skillcentre 1 2 3 4 5 6 Course title Capacity Number of applicants on waiting list Recruitment situation Month suspended Month recruitment to be reopened Bricklaying 14 0 Suspended February 1984 May 1984 Heating and Ventilating fitting 12 1 Suspended December 1983 July 1984 Painting and Decorating 12 3 Suspended February 1984 May 1984 Basic Welding 24 9 Suspended May 1983 Under Review Asme IX Welding 12 0 Open — — Group Engineering 32 7 Open — — Radio and Television Servicing 12 0 Suspended January 1984 November 1984 Industrial Electronics Test and Service Mechanic 12 7 Suspended July 1983 April 1984 Heavy Vehicle Repair and Maintenance 12 3 Suspended October 1983 March 1984 Motor Vehicle Body Repair 12 2 Open — — Motor Vehicle Repair and Maintenance 12 1 Open — — Motor Vehicle Spray Painting 12 2 Open — — Refrigeration and Conditioning 24 2 Open — — Domestic Appliance Servicing 12 5 Suspended January 1984 May 1984 Gents Hairdressing 12 1 Suspended January 1984 May 1984 Basic Engineering 10 2 Suspended October 1983 March 1984 earned less before being made redundant than employees generally; and what account is take of this factor in calculating average earning (a) overall and (b) in manufacturing.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe latest avaliable information which compares the previous earning of the unemployed with the average earnings of full-time male employees is given in an article, "The disadvantages of the unemployed", published inEmployment Gazette for August 1980, a copy of which is in the Library. Official statistics of average earnings relate solely to employees currently in employment.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current average manual wage, both skilled and unskilled, in the United Kingdom; and how these wages compare with the closest equivalent figures in West Germany expressed against a standardised measure of the standard of living in the two countries.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe latest comparable figures for the United Kingdom and West Germany relate to average gross hourly earnings of all full-time manual employees in manufacturing industry in October 1982 and are published in the Eurostat Statistical Bulletin, Wages and Salaries, 5–83, a copy of which is in the Library. Figures are given both in national currencies (table A/5) and converted into current purchasing power standards (table A/3)