asked the Paymaster General why the new earnings survey does not include any figures relating to manual workers in the gas industry, SIC 1620 public gas supply, gas workers NJIC agreement and gas fitters occupation.

Results for the following groups—manual workers in the gas industry SIC 1620 public gas supply, Gas Workers NJIC agreement and gas fitters occupation — are normally included in the new earnings survey published report. My Department took the decision to exclude figures from the 1986 report following advice from British Gas that the survey data were unreliable.