HC Deb 17 July 1995 vol 263 cc890-1W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average gross weekly earnings of(a) women and (b) men in (i) each standard planning region and (ii) each country area in the northern region in each year since 1979 (1) at current prices and (2) at 1979 prices and the proportion of women and men earning less than 68 per cent. of the national average gross weekly wage in each standard planning region and each county area in the northern region in each year since 1979. [34180]

Mrs. Angela Knight

[holding answer 13 July 1995]: Analyses of average earnings of full-time employees in the counties of the northern region are published in part E of the new earnings survey reports. Tables 110 and 113 contain average gross weekly earnings for men and women respectively. Copies of the reports are available in the Library.

The retail prices index is available in table 6.4 of the "Employment Gazette" and is now being published in full in the Central Statistical Office business monitor MM23.

Figures of the proportion of men and women earning less than 68 per cent. of the national average gross weekly wage in each standard planning region and each county area in the northern region cannot be produced for the years before 1986. To do so for the years since 1986 would incur disproportionate cost. Some relevant information can be found in tables 110 and 113, in the form of percentages with gross weekly earnings below three specified amounts.