HC Deb 06 March 1986 vol 93 cc217-8W
Mr. Tom Cox

asked the Prime Minister what has been the average yearly salary increase to teachers, police and the armed forces since June 1979.

The Prime Minister

The available information is as follows:

Percentage increase in average gross weekly

earnings of adult employees* working a full

week
Teaching England

and Wales: Burnham

Committee: primary,

secondary and special schools

 Police service Ranks below superintendent
Males Females Males Females
April 1979 to April 1980 17.6 17.9 30.1 28.2
April 1980 to April 1981 36.7 35.4 10.9 18.1

Percentage increase in average gross weekly

earnings of adult employees* working a full

week
Teaching England

and Wales: Burnham

Committee: primary,

secondary and special schools

 Police service Ranks below superintendent
Males Females Males Females
April 1981 to April 1982 1.3 1.5 14.9 13.9
April 1982 to April 1983 8.0 8.3 13.9 17.6
April 1983 to April 1984 4.8 5.1 10.3 8.4
April 1984 to April 1985 6.4 5.8 5.9 6.9
* For April 1979 to April 1983, males aged 21 and over and females aged 18 and over: for April 1983 to April 1985, males and females on adult rates.

Source: New Earnings Survey.

Wholly comparable information for the armed forces is not available, but the military salary index for all ranks of adult male United Kingdom service personnel has shown the following changes between successive financial years:

Percentage increase
1979–80 to 1980–81 16.0
1980–81 to 1981–82 10.6
1981–82 to 1982–83 5.9
1982–83 to 1983–84 7.3
1983–84 to 1984–85 5.1
1984–85 to 1985–86 9.8

Source: Table 4.17 of Statement of Defence Estimates 1985.2.