HC Deb 07 March 1984 vol 55 cc597-8W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage increase in the average gross weekly earnings of manual and non-manual workers in Great Britain would be necessary to raise them to the average gross weekly earnings of the highest paid director amongst the United Kingdom's top 100 companies, a field marshal in the Army and members of the Commission of the Common Market in each year from 1979 to 1984.

Mr. Alan Clark

Approximate percentage increases based on the average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees aged 18 and over each April are as follows:

1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
Highest paid director in top 100 United Kingdom companies* 4,651 4,684 7,333 8,153 6,745
Field Marshal† 506 491 459 499 451
European Commission basic salary (grade A1)‡║ 934 794 619 568 678
* Total emoluments as defined in Section 196 of the Companies Act 1948 in the nearest accounting year (expressed as a weekly rate).
† Salary as at April. The figure for 1983 takes no account of the staged increases payable as from 1 August 1983 and 1 January 1984.
‡ Salary of grade A1 official at step 6, the top of the incremental scale.

as at July.

║ Amounts payable in foreign currencies have been converted to £ sterling at the current exchange rate.