§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) to what extent the figures for the increase in earnings in manufacturing take account of the changes in the number of part-time and unskilled jobs; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the effect of this factor on the index;
(2) to what extent the figures for the increase in earnings in manufacturing take account of the changes in the number of low-paid jobs in labour-intensive industries.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe monthly index of average earnings for manufacturing is based on the average earnings of those currently employed and will, therefore, reflect changes in the numbers of various categories of employees, including those working part-time or in unskilled and low-paid occupations. The information available from the monthly survey on which the index is based does not enable to be distinguished.
Changes in average earnings for particular categories of employee in manufacturing, including full-time and part-time employees and occupations requiring various levels of skills and receiving different levels of pay, are given in the report on the new earnings survey, the latest of which relates to April 1983 and is available in the Library.