§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the continuance of separate rates of regional employment premium for male and female employees is consistent with Government policy on sex equality.
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§ Mr. Joel BarnettI have been asked to reply.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the then Pay-master General gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West (Miss Boothroyd) on 4th March.—[Vol. 906, c. 1514.]
§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Employment when, and at what rates, regional employment premium was introduced; and by how much the current rates would have to be increased to give them equivalent value to the original rates.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettI have been asked to reply.
The regional employment premium was introduced in 1967, replacing selective refunds of selective employment tax, at the rates:
£1 10s 0d., men of 18 years of age and above£0 15s 0d., women 18 years of age and above£0 15s 0d., boys under 18 years of age£0 7s 6., girls under 18 years of ageThe rates were doubled in July 1974, approximately restoring their original value.In order to restore the original value of the payments now, using the GDP deflator up to the end of 1975, beyond which reliable figures are not available, the rates would need to be increased to:
£3.60, men 18 years of age and above£1.80, women 18 years of age and above£1.80, boys under 18 years of age£0.90, girls under 18 years of age