HC Deb 27 July 2000 vol 354 cc843-4W
Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of women's average earnings flat rate Statutory Maternity Pay constituted in each year since 1970. [133139]

Mr. Bayley

Statutory Maternity Pay was introduced in April 1987. The table shows the percentage of women's average earnings that the flat rate of statutory maternity pay has constituted in each year from that date.

Ratio of women's earnings to flat rate of Statutory Maternity Pay
Percentage
April 1987 28.5
April 1988 27.7
April 1989 26.8
April 1990 26.5
April 1991 28.0

Ratio of women's earnings to flat rate of Statutory Maternity Pay
Percentage
April 1992 27.2
April 1993 27.1
April 1994 26.8
April 1995 27.9
April 1996 27.9
April 1997 27.7
April 1998 27.4
April 1999 26.8

Note:

Average earnings figures are for full-time female manual employees and come from the New Earnings Survey, taken in April each year.