asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present figure for average earnings of workers on a 40-hour week in the manufacturing engineering industry; and what was the figure, at the same date approximately, in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The Department's annual survey of earnings of adult male manual workers in the engineering group of manufacturing industries in June indicate average earnings for 40 hours were:

				£
June 1978	…	…	…	71·50
June 1977	…	…	…	62·60
June 1976	…	…	…	58·10
June 1975	…	…	…	50·20
June 1974	…	…	…	39·90

These estimates are based on the average hourly earnings excluding the effect of overtime premium payments. The survey covers mechanical engineering, electrical engineering—except for manufacture of wires and cables—marine engineering, vehicle manufacture and manufacture of tools, gauges, implements, bolts, nuts, screws and various other metal products.