§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those people in receipt of luncheon vouchers as part of their contract of employment(a) are categorised as being low paid and (b) have incomes below the level of the national minimum wage. [55605]
§ Mr. TimmsAccording to the latest Family Resources Survey (1996–97), less than 1 per cent. of all employees responding to the survey had received luncheon vouchers from their present employer in the last six months. Of these employees, in the region of 2 per cent. had calculated hourly earnings below levels consistent with the national minimum wage. This is based on an extremely small sample size and should therefore be treated with caution. The independent Low Pay Commission have concluded that there is no standard definition of low pay.