asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the total number of workers covered by wage agreements which include an automatic sliding scale related to the Cost-of-Living Index; and what has been the percentage increase in wages covered by such agreements since the introduction of the incomes pause policy.

Nearly 2 million workers are covered by sliding-scale agreements.

The latest available figures are as follows:It is estimated that these arrangements have, on average, increased the rates of wages for the workers concerned by about 17 per cent. between end July, 1961, and end February, 1962.