Women's weekly income was half of men's last year despite a slight improvement on the previous 12 months.

Average income for all women, including those working part time or from home, was £145 a week in 2001/02, half the figure of £287 for men.

Women's weekly income compared to men has increased from 46 per cent in 1996/97 to 49 per cent in 2000/01 and again to 50 per cent in 2001/02.

About 40 per cent of all women had income of less than £100 a week in the latest period compared with less than a 20 per cent of men, according to figures released by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Women with full-time jobs had average incomes of £309 a week in 2001/02, 78 per cent of that for men.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "It is a well-known fact that women's income declines after they have children because they are either forced out of the labour market due to the lack of workplace flexibility or have to take less skilled jobs to work family friendly hours.

"That is why our approach to helping women is all about choice."

Union leaders said the new figures showed more needed to be done to close the pay gap, which stands at 19 per cent on hourly pay rates.

"The fact that there is a 50 per cent difference in the income of men and women is unacceptable," said Roger Lyons, joint general secretary of Amicus.

Friday June 20, 2003