HC Deb 25 March 1999 vol 328 cc519-20
12. Mr. Alan W. Williams (East Carmarthen and Dinefwr)

If he will make a statement on the advertising campaign being planned by his Department to publicise the introduction of the national minimum wage. [77044]

The Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs (Dr. Kim Howells)

A comprehensive press, radio and television campaign is well under way. The budget for the campaign was recently increased from £2 million to £5 million. It will ensure that workers know their rights and employers understand their responsibilities with respect to the minimum wage.

Mr. Williams

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. I congratulate the Government, the Front-Bench team and my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), who is not with us, on their excellent work over the past couple of years in establishing the minimum wage. It will be of great help in my constituency and in west Wales, where low pay is endemic and there are many small employers. What is his advice to people who work for such employers and are paid less than the minimum wage? That part of the economy is non-unionised, so they are concerned about their jobs and do not want difficult relations with their employers. Is there a helpline or intermediary to help assert the minimum wage?

Dr. Howells

There is certainly a helpline, which takes more than 3,000 calls a week. The Inland Revenue will be responsible for enforcement of the national minimum wage on behalf of my Department. With its expertise in checking records, it is ideally placed to take on that new and important work. It will respond to workers' complaints and issue enforcement notices requiring employers to pay the minimum wage and make up any back pay.

Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West)

A significant omission from the current campaign is any reference to the abatement of the national minimum wage in respect of board and lodgings being provided as part of a settlement. Is the Minister aware of the difficulty that that poses for the adventure holiday industry? Will he reconsider those problems and what relief might be provided to that industry?

Dr. Howells

As I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows, the Low Pay Commission has been examining the subject. We are considering a copy of its report, which was delivered in the past day.