Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Year ended 31 July 2009

13. Employee information and Directors’ remuneration

Employee benefit costs	2009 £m	2008 (restated) £m
Wages and salaries	1,765	1,654
Social security costs	282	261
Pension costs – Defined contribution schemes (note 32)	43	37
Pension costs – Defined benefit schemes (note 32)	32	27
Share options granted to Directors and employees	9	5
Total employee benefit costs – continuing operations	2,131	1,984

Details of Directors’ remuneration and share options are set out in the Remuneration report, which form part of these financial statements. The aggregate emoluments for all key management are set out in note 40.

Average weekly number of employees	2009	2008 (restated)
UK and Ireland	13,731	15,372
France	9,666	10,725
Nordic	7,036	7,643
Central and Eastern Europe	2,904	3,965
Europe	33,337	37,705
US plumbing and heating	19,054	22,153
Canada	2,691	2,857
North America plumbing and heating	21,745	25,010
North America loan services	50	59
North America	21,795	25,069
Group – continuing operations	55,132	62,774

The average weekly number of Group and Europe head office employees is included in UK and Ireland in the above table.