§ Mr. Corbynasked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the numbers and proportions of
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Persons not working, who would like a job Spring 1986 (Thousands) Region/Sex All who would like a job, of which: Available to start within two weeks Not available, hut had looked in last four weeks All persons Great Britain 5,296 4,292 220 Northern 374 307 13 Yorkshire and Humberside 515 432 14 workers in Britain who are paid less than the Council of Europe decency threshold; and what was the number arid proportion in 1979.
§ Mr. LeeThe new earnings survey indicates thaw: in April 1986 just over 4⅓ million, or about 28 per cent. of full-time adult employees in Great Britain had gross weekly earnings for a full week of less than £125.6, the latter figure corresponding to 68 per cent. of the Great Britain average for all full-time adult employees. Comparable figures for 1979 are not available. Although an advisory committee of the Council of Europe has suggested the figure of 68 per cent. of national full-time adult average earnings as significant in considering low pay, the figure has not been accepted or recognised by the United Kingdom or any other member state of the Council of Europe.