§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report the average pay of (a) a teacher, and (b) a policeman, at the age of 25 years in January 1980 and in January 1985.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is estimated that the average earnings (including allowances) of full-time teachers aged 25 in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales were about £4,500 in January 1980 and £7,250 in January 1985. Information on average earnings by age is not available for police officers, but a constable with five years' service would have been on a basic salary of £5,334 in January 1980 and £9,234 in January 1985.
§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Prime Minister what, in real terms have been the average pay increases of (a) policemen and (b) teachers, since May 1979.
§ The Prime MinisterThe cumulative increase arising from annual pay settlements between May 1979 and April 1984 amounted to 69.9 per cent. for school teachers and 86.4 per cent. for police officers. Over the period April 1979 to April 1984 average gross earnings, as measured by the New Earnings Survey, have risen by 84 per cent. for teachers and for 105 per cent. for policemen. Between May 1979 and April 1984 the retail prices index rose by 62 per cent. and the tax and price index by 60.2 per cent. since April 1984 police officers have had a settlement of 5.1 per cent. from September 1984. Teachers have been offered an increase of 4 per cent. from 1 April 1985.