Wage rise calls

UNION leaders called for an increase in the national minimum wage after new figures showed a huge contrast in hourly pay rates for workers across the UK.

The GMB said the average hourly pay is £12.50, more than twice the adult minimum wage of £5.05.

Average rates range from less than £11 an hour in the North East and just over £11 in Wales and Northern Ireland, to £17.30 in London and £13.03 in the South East.

Paul Kenny, acting general secretary of the GMB, said: "These average pay figures show that there is plenty of scope to raise the national minimum wage to the £6 per hour that the GMB sought last time it was reviewed.

Top firms pay up

TAKE home pay for employees at some of the UK's biggest companies rose by an average of 5.8 per cent during 2005, figures showed.

Payment systems group Voca, which analysed the pay packets of workers at about 100 FTSE 350 firms, said the rate of increase was ahead of the 5.5 per cent rise recorded for the year to the end of November.

It said it was the sixth month in a row the rate at which take home pay had increased, adding that the figure was now at its highest since it began keeping records in September 2004.

The Vicky effect

LITTLE Britain toymaker Character Group reported a 60 per cent rise in sales over Christmas as figurines such as the Vicky Pollard doll became one of the festive period's most popular gifts. The Surrey-based group sold out of the products which are still in demand.