§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in theOfficial Report the number and percentage of people, working full-time and part-time earning less than(a) £3.40 an hour,(b) £4.00 an hour,(c) £4.60 an hour and(d) £5.20 an hour respectively; and if he will give the information separately for men and women and, in each case, those aged (i) under 17 years, (ii) under 18 years, (iii) 18 years to 20 years and (iv) 21 years to 24 years, respectively.
Mr. JacksonThe information available from the 1991 "New Earnings Survey" closest to that requested is given in the following tables.
recognise that Government should itself set an example to both the private and public sectors. All Government Departments are committed to ensuring that they pay within agreed terms or, if there is no contractual provision or other understanding governing the timing of payment, within 30 days of receipt of goods or a valid invoice, whichever is the later. Furthermore, my hon. Friend, the Minister for Small Firms, has offered to follow up individual cases of delayed payments to small firms by Government Departments.
701WDuring the financial year 1991–92, major spending Departments are undertaking surveys of their payment performance and making a return to the Department. The surveys will encompass payments to businesses of all sizes. The results will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.