HC Deb 20 November 1997 vol 301 cc441-3
8. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

What representations she has received on the work of the Low Pay Commission. [15397]

Mr. Ian McCartney

I have received a number of representations on the work of the Low Pay Commission. It is well advanced on its programme of consultation to obtain views of employers, employees and other interested organisations and individuals on the national minimum wage through written evidence and by holding meetings.

Mrs. Bottomley

Does the hon. Gentleman agree with the President of the Board of Trade, who said that wide-ranging exemptions would be well nigh unworkable and inconsistent with the idea of a national minimum wage? When considering all the submissions from industry, would the Minister care to look at the response of the British Hospitality Association, which is responsible for 2 million jobs—one fifth of the new jobs—and which gives many young people an opportunity to work? That association talks about the dangers of a minimum wage.

Mr. McCartney

Having listened to the right hon. Lady's contribution, I can see why she was named the poorest Minister in the worst Government in living memory. I made it clear about 30 seconds ago, or less, that there will be a national minimum wage with no sectoral derogations and no opt-out for companies and it will be available from day one of employment.

The Low Pay Commission has already received over 350 individual items of evidence about the minimum wage. It is on a regional tour of England and will visit Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. There is consensus among its members to produce workable proposals for the establishment of a national minimum wage. The Low Pay Commission is a success. It shows that employers, working with employees, can come forward with proposals to end poverty pay.

Mr. Winnick

Does it not make my hon. Friend's blood boil—it certainly does mine—that the strenuous objections to a minimum wage come from Conservative Members who not only receive a parliamentary wage, but in almost every case get extra money from outside sources? How can they possibly justify denying fellow citizens a decent wage when so many people in this country, especially in the west midlands, earn a starvation wage? It is a scandal. Conservative Members should be thoroughly ashamed of wanting to deny those people justice when they earn so much money themselves.

Mr. McCartney

My hon. Friend is right. In fact, during the last Parliament, many Conservatives were part-time Members of Parliament. Some of them would not ask a question unless they were paid for doing so. The truth is that Conservative Members show double standards and hypocrisy. For 18 years, they drove down pay for the most vulnerable in the community. Now, this new Government intend to reverse that trend and introduce a national minimum wage, which will be a saviour for low-paid workers.

Rev. Martin Smyth

The Minister has included Northern Ireland in his remarks so, as an elected Northern Ireland Member, I do not think that I can be criticised for pressing the point. 1 trust that the Low Pay Commission will not be following our American cousins and recommending the lowest minimum wage.

Mr. McCartney

The Low Pay Commission was in Northern Ireland this week, taking evidence. Its task is that, by the end of May next year, it must make proposals for the establishment of a national minimum wage. At that stage, we shall consider its proposals. Surely the most important point is that, within 90 days of the general election, we established the Low Pay Commission, which is now out in the country taking evidence and working with low-paid workers and employers to try to formulate proposals for the introduction of a minimum wage.