asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the current average wage for Wales; and if he will make a statement;

			Dyfed (excluding Llanelli)		Wales
			Average gross weekly earnings	Percentage Standard error	Average gross weekly earnings	Percentage Standard error
			£		£
Men aged 21 and over	…	…	66·30	2·1	69·80	0·6
Women aged 18 and over	…	…	46·80	3·9	45·50	1·0

Differences in average earnings between regions include the effects of different industrial and occupational structures. They do not, therefore, give a precise indication of differences in earnings for comparable work.