HC Deb 29 October 1986 vol 103 cc150-1W
Mr. Hicks

asked the Paymaster General, for the last year for which figures are available, what was the level of average weekly earnings for males and females, respectively, in work in the United Kingdom, and the corresponding figures for Scotland, Wales, and each of the standard regions in England, and for Devon and Cornwall, separately; and if he will also express these figures as a percentage of the United Kingdom figure.

Mr. Lee

The latest available information on average weekly earnings is that for April 1985 and relates to full-time employees working a full week. The figures requested are as follows:

Full-time males Full-time females
Average gross weekly earnings Percentage of average gross weekly earnings for United Kingdom Average gross weekly earnings Percentage of average gross weekly earnings for United Kingdom
£ Per cent. £ Per cent.
Region
South East 213.8 111.4 140.9 111.6
East Anglia 182.7 95.2 118.6 93.9
South West 179.0 93.2 119.4 94.5
Cornwall 159.8 83.2 109.7 86.9
Devon 165.1 86.0 115.6 91.5
West Midlands 180.2 93.9 117.6 93.1
East Midlands 175.5 91.4 114.3 90.5
Yorkshire and Humberside 180.7 94.1 117.3 92.9
North West 185.2 96.5 121.0 95.8
North 179.3 93.4 119.7 94.8
Country
England 193.3 100.7 127.6 101.0
Scotland 189.7 98.8 119.1 94.3
Wales 179.1 93.3 118.8 94.1
United Kingdom 192.0 126.3

Source: New Earnings Survey (Great Britain) 1985.

New Earnings Survey (Northern Ireland) 1985.

Note: Differences in average earnings will reflect differences in the industrial and occupational structure of employment in different regions and do not necessarily imply differences in rates of pay for comparable jobs.