To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people earn more than the minimum wage but less than £6.75 per hour; how many of those work in the (a) private and (b) public sector; and if he will make a statement. (174852)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, 7 January 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many people earn more than the minimum wage but less than £6.75 per hour; how many of those work in the (a) private and (b) public sector. (174852)

Levels of earnings are estimated from the annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE), and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.

ASHE is not used to provide estimates of the numbers earning above the national minimum wage but less than £6.75 per hour, split by public and private sectors, but is used to make estimates of the proportions of employees in those categories. I attach a table providing that information.

Figures have been calculated using hourly earnings excluding overtime and include employees on adult rates whose pay for the pay-period was not affected by absence. They apply to earnings at April 2007.

ASHE is not used to provide accurate estimates of the numbers earning above the national minimum wage but less than £6.75 per hour, split by public and private sectors, but is used to make estimates of the proportions of employees in those categories.