HC Deb 01 April 1985 vol 76 cc456-7W
Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of people in Wales earning less than 60 per cent. of the national average wage; and what this number is as a percentage of the working population in Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The exact information requested is not available, but according to the new earnings survey for 1984, approximately 16.5 per cent. of full-time employees on adult rates in Wales were earning less than 60 per cent. of the Welsh figure for average earnings.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of people, whether single, married or as part of families, living on incomes of 60 per cent. of the national average or less; and what this number is as a percentage of the total population of Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The information is not available in the form requested, but figures from the 1983 family expenditure survey show that approximately 34 per cent. of Welsh households have a gross normal weekly income of 60 per cent. or less of the Wales average.

Indices of average earnings (1979=100)
Wales England Great Britain
At current prices At constant prices At current prices At constant prices At current prices At constant prices
1979 100 100 100 100 100 100
1980 121 100 123 101 123 101
1981 136 100 140 102 139 102
1982 149 100 153 102 152 102
1983 160 103 166 107 166 107
1984* 170 104 178 109 178 109
* The 1979–83 figures are for men aged 21 and over and women aged 18 and over in full-time employment whose pay was not affected by absence. The 1984 figures are for full-time employees on adult rates whose pay was not affected by absence.

Indices for persons on 60 per cent., 80 per cent. and 200 per cent. of the average wage bill would be identical.

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