§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the numbers and distribution of workers earning less than the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions(a) by gender and (b) by region and nation. [24354]
Employees earning less than the lower limit for National Insurance contributions1, average of four quarters, autumn 1996 to summer 1997 Thousands As a percentage of all employees All Men Women All Men Women Great Britain 2,494 562 1,932 11 5 18 England 2,156 489 1,667 11 5 18 North East 119 2— 97 13 2— 22 North West and Merseyside 297 64 233 11 5 18 North West 246 57 189 12 6 18 Merseyside 51 2— 44 9 2— 15 Yorkshire and Humberside 234 54 181 12 6 20 East Midlands 205 38 167 12 4 20 West Midlands 232 50 183 11 5 18 Eastern 261 51 209 12 4 20 London 194 63 131 8 5 11 South East 363 86 278 11 5 18 South West 250 61 189 13 6 21 Wales 147 31 116 15 6 24 Scotland 191 42 149 9 4 15 Notes:
1 £61 per week for the 1996–97 tax year and £62 for 1997–98.
2Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.
Source:
ONS, Labour Force Survey.