To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the latest comparable figures, showing numbers and percentages of the working population in each European Union country who are earning on or below the equivalent of £2.50 per hour. [34577]

[holding answer 14 July 1995]: The number of people in Great Britain earning below £2.50 per hour is estimated to be around 800,000, based on the results of the winter 1994–95 labour force survey. This represents 4 per cent. of employees. Comparable figures for other European Union countries are not available.