§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the pay gap between average male and female earnings in(a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [106025]
§ Ms HewittThe gender gap in hourly pay between men and women increased slightly from 18.5 per cent in 2001 to 18.9 per cent in 2002. ONS found the increase was due to a widening of the gap at the higher end of the earnings distribution. The gender pay gap for the bottom 75 per cent. of women narrowed over the same period from 13.3 per cent. to 12.8 per cent.