Pay differences between men and women are getting smaller, according to official statistics.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found the average man in full time employment earns £25,100 a year whilst the average female receives £19,400.

But in spite of the £5,700 a year difference, women's pay is increasing faster than that of men - the gap now stands at 13.2 per cent compared to 14.5 per cent last year.

Women's minister Tessa Jowell said the gender pay gap is now at its lowest level in the 30 years since the equal pay act was introduced. Women now receive 83 pence for every pound that a man earns whilst in 1975, this stood at 70 pence.

She said: "But there is obviously still more to be done. This shows that government policies to address the reasons why the pay gap has existed for so long are working: the minimum wage, flexible working, and better maternity and paternity leave.

"But there is no room for complacency; we must close the pay and skills gap further to ensure women have higher lifetime earnings and higher pensions."

The gender equality charity the Fawcett Society, agrees more needs to be done to narrow the gap further.

Kate Bellamy, senior policy officer, said: "Every thinking person would agree that it’s not right for women to be paid less than men – but that’s what still happens even after 30 years of equal pay legislation.

Overall, the earnings of those in full-time work rose by 2.8 per cent between April 2004 and 2005. The average earnings of employees across all sectors increased to £17,524 a year – a rise of £520.

However, those in high paid jobs saw their earnings grow faster than those at the bottom end of the pay scale.

Weekly earnings rose by 2.3 per cent for the worst paid full-time staff in the country, but they also grew twice as quickly for the best paid ten per cent.

The average woman in low paid work receives just £10,670 a year, while the average man in the top ten per cent earns a salary of £49,447.