§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2000,Official Report, columns 405–06W, on New Earnings Survey data, if he will publish data for hourly wages for the smallest area covering South Gloucestershire Local Authority which does not breach his confidentiality agreement. [136305]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 6 November 2000]: Part A of the ONS publication 'New Earnings Survey 1999' lists the average hourly wage (excluding overtime) in South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority as £9.95. This incorporates employees in all occupation groups.
138WThe Area Cost Adjustment (ACA) methodology only uses occupation groups that are considered relevant to local authority employment. Applying the ACA methodology to the 1999 New Earnings Survey data produces an average hourly wage (excluding overtime) in South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority of £9.72. As indicated in my reply of 31 October, this value for South Gloucestershire contributes to the 'Rest of England' average hourly wage (excluding overtime) figure of £9.91.