I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 21, 25 and 120 together.
The ESRI report on male-female wage differentials shows that when all male and female employees are included in the analysis, women's hourly earnings are approximately 80 per cent of men's. It is notable that when all sectors are examined, the female hourly wage is somewhat closer to the male rate than that commonly quoted for workers in manufacturing industry.
The most recent statistics for earnings and hours of work of industrial workers — adult rates — for March 1993 indicate that the average hourly rate for women in manufacturing industry was £4.84 — 71 per cent of the average hourly rate for men of £6.81. Average weekly rates for women were £180.10 — 64 per cent of the weekly rate for men of £281.35. These figures represent an albeit modest improvement in recent years, with average hourly rates having increased from almost 68 per cent and average weekly rates from 60 per cent since 1987.
To close these earnings gaps further a number of strategies will require to be adopted including amending employment equality legislation, the promotion of equal opportunities and an ongoing effort by employers and trade unions to review their treatment of this matter.
Amendment of employment equality legislation during 1994 will seek to improve existing equal pay and equal treatment provisions as well as to extend cover to non-gender categories. The social partners have undertaken in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work to implement equal pay for work of equal value and equality rights entitlements. They have also agreed, on my initiative, to consider EU developments on equal pay and support voluntary initiatives at enterprise level.
The importance of equal opportunities measures in reducing wage differentials is also increasingly recognised. The Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997 and the Programme for Competitiveness and Work reflect the contribution which equal opportunities can make generally and specify actions to which the Government and social partners are committed, encompassing positive action measures and measures to reconcile family and work responsibilities.
In this way it will be possible to secure a sustained rise in women's participation in the labour market over their life cycle, thereby reducing productivity related differences with men as regards factors, such as experience, which the ESRI study idenified as explaining almost half of the 20 per cent wage gap.
I am currently consulting with my colleagues in Government on the response to recommendations for the provision of childcare facilities. The views expressed in the ESRI report are consistent with the thrust of the Report of the Working Group on Childcare Facilities for Working Parents. The in-depth consideration of the measures proposed by the working group which is currently underway should help address the issue highlighted by the ESRI report.
The availability of the ESRI report at this point is most welcome and will afford Government and social partners the opportunity to reflect on and respond to the report's findings.