HC Deb 28 July 1988 vol 138 c374W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what effect changes in hourly earnings in the internationally tradeable goods industries have had on the level of competitiveness since the fourth quarter of 1986.

Mr. Alan Clark

Earnings: in manufacturing increased by 8.4 per cent, between the fourth quarters of 1986 and 1987, a larger increase than in most competitor countries. Rising productivity offset much of the increase in earnings in the United Kingdom, but in some of our major competitors, unit labour costs fell.

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