§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide information covering each of the last five years showing the number of employees whose earnings fell below(a) the national insurance contributions lower earnings limit; and (b) the PAYE threshold; and if he will estimate what proportion of these employees are (i) women, (ii) female part-timers and (iii) part-timers.
§ Mr. NichollsThe available information from the new earnings survey is not sufficiently precise to make reliable estimates separately distinguishing the numbers with earnings below these two thresholds. However, the numbers are broadly estimated to be in the following ranges:
April Millions 1984 2½–3 1985 2¾–3¼ 1986 2¾–3¼ 1987 3–3½ 1988 3–3½ It is estimated that women account for 75 per cent, of these employees, that female part-timers account for 70 per cent, and that all part-timers account for 90 per cent.