§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 354, concerning the increase in real earnings of railway signalmen compared with white collar
Gross weekly earnings of full-time employees—Pay unaffected by absence; at April Percentiles 25 per cent. 50 per cent. 75 per cent. Real increase in pay 1979–1989 Railway signalmen, and shunters etc. Men 5.3 13.7 21.8 Women — — — All manuals Men 6.0 9.8 13.4 Women 10.3 12.2 16.6 Private sector non-manuals Men 23.1 33.7 40.7 Women 30.8 40.8 50.3 Increases in pay 1989–1993 Railway signalman, and shunters etc. Men 26.5 18.1 21.7 Women — — — All 26.5 18.1 21.7 All manuals Men 1.6 2.2 2.3 Women 3.6 4.7 7.0 All 2.8 2.2 2.3 Private sector non-manuals Men -0.1 1.2 2.8 Woman 9.3 10.6 12.0 All 6.6 5.1 4.7
Gross pay levels Percentiles 1993 25 per cent. 50 per cent. 75 per cent. Mean Railway signalmen, and shunters etc. Men 260.3 323.4 429.4 365.5 Women — — — — All 260.3 323.4 429.4 365.5 All manuals Men 201.2 256.4 324.0 274.3 Women 130.5 162.2 205.8 177.1 All 181.4 239.1 308.8 256.6 Private sector non-manuals Men 253.9 356.4 498.3 421.9 Women 167.0 218.9 293.3 250.8 All 201.9 289.8 422.4 353.4 Source: New Earnings Surveys
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether railway signalmen are classified as skilled workers.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythFor statistical purposes, railway singalmen are classified as skilled manual workers.