§ 31. Mr. EnrightTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission what consideration has been given to a minimum wage for House employees.
§ Mr. BeithThe House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978 requires the House of Commons Commission to ensure that the complementing, grading and pay of staff in the House Departments are kept broadly in line with those in the home civil service. For most staff, the rates of pay are the same as those of the equivalent grades in the civil service. Where variations have been introduced, they have been achieved through negotiations with the appropriate recognised trade unions. No consideration has been given to a minimum wage for House employees.
§ Mr. EnrightIs it not scandalous that no consideration has been given to this issue when people who serve us and work on an extremely low wage are hard put to it to live in London, which they are bound to do by the very 626 nature of their work? I therefore urge the right hon. Gentleman and the Commission to reconsider this issue and to consider carefully what is a fair and just wage for our employees.
§ Mr. BeithThe lowest rates of pay for full-time employment in the House are above any of the minimum wage suggestions that I heard put forward at recent party conferences.
§ Mr. Matthew BanksDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would be unwise to introduce a policy that is likely to put some members of staff out of work?
§ Mr. BeithMy earlier answer makes it clear that that would not happen. Rates of pay in the House are, by statute, linked to civil service grades, so we could not introduce a different method of determining pay without changing the statutory basis on which we do it.