Low Pay

Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage change in income for the lowest-paid 10 per cent. of the population in Wales between 1979 and 1991.

Mr. Redwood
The new earnings survey estimates that, in 1979, 10 per cent. of full-time male employees in Wales earned below £60·10 per week gross with 10 per cent of female employees earning below £39·70 per week.. The corresponding figures for 1991 were £147·90 and £114·10 per week: increases of 146 and 187 per cent. over 1979 levels for males and females respectively.