Real Wages 75. Mr. Marten asked the Secretary of State for Employment what factors he takes into account when calculating real wages in Great Britain in comparison with real wages in foreign countries; and on what basis a fair comparison can be made. Mr. Bryan International comparison of real wages is not practicable. Tax and social security liabilities, and therefore real wages, depend on the family and other circumstances of the earner. Comparable information on earnings of particular categories of earners and their liabilities under the taxation and social security systems in different countries is not available.