HC Deb 30 March 1998 vol 309 c440W
Mr. Duncan Smith

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people earn over £450 per week and what proportion this represents of the United Kingdom workforce; and what proportion of those earning over £450 per week earn(a) under £500, (b) under £550, (c) under £600, (d) under £650, (e) under £700, (f) under £750, (g) under £800 and (h) over £800. [36361]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 26 March 1998]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. lain Duncan-Smith, dated 30 March 1998: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on weekly earnings. The latest information, from the New Earnings Survey 1997, is contained in the attached table.

Employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey pay-period was unaffected by absence—Great Britain—April 1997
Gross weekly earnings, per cent. earning
Full-time Part-time All
Greater than £450 23.3 1.1 18.3
Less than £500 27.0 29.4 27.0
Less than £550 45.9 51.1 46.0
Less than £600 49.4 63.6 59.4
Less than £650 68.1 72.3 68.2
Less than £700 75.0 77.4 75.0
Less than £750 79.8 80.8 79.9
Less than £800 83.4 83.1 83.4
Greater than/equal to £800 16.6 16.9 16.6