Differences in pay levels 'still high'

PAY inequality in Britain remains high, with "significant differences" between men and women and among ethnic minority groups, a Government-commissioned report said today.

A National Equality Panel, set up by Ministers in 2008 to investigate inequalities, found that "deep seated" differences remained between social groups, even though some of the widest gaps had narrowed in the last decade, such as the difference between men's and women's wages.

Differences in wealth affected the ability to buy houses in the catchment areas of the best schools and to help children on to the housing ladder, said the report.

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Huge differences were also identified in the wealth of older people, with one in 10 households aged 55 to 64 having houses, pension rights and other money worth less than 28,000, while a 10th had more than 1.3m.

Women up to the age of 44 had better qualifications than men, but women's hourly pay was 21 per cent less, according to the research.

Apparent discrimination against people from ethnic minorities was revealed, with those from nearly every minority group less likely to be in paid work than white British men and women.

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