§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women in each region earn below the national insurance threshold; and how many are between the upper and lower earnings limits.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe average number of employees earning between the lower and upper earnings limits in any week in 1990–91 is approximately
Detailed information on the numbers earning below the lower earnings limit is not available. It is estimated, however, that in any week about 2.75 million employees earn less than the lower earnings limit, of whom about one quarter are men. Up to 0.5 million of these people would be only temporarily below the lower earnings limit by virtue of a reduction in their normal earnings—for example, due to sickness.
- Men 8.6 million
- Women 8.0 million
The figures are for employees in Great Britain. Information on a regional basis is not available.