HC Deb 11 May 1999 vol 331 cc83-4W
Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Leicester Children's Holiday Centre about the interpretation of an intentional community as defined by the National Minimum Wage Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [83009]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The Low Pay Commission has passed copies of its recent correspondence with the Leicester Children's Holiday Centre (as to whether the Centre might be regarded as an intentional community and thus exempted from the national minimum wage) to my Department.

The Low Pay Commission recommended that members of intentional communities should be regarded as volunteers rather than workers and therefore should not be covered by the minimum wage. The Government accept this recommendation and propose to introduce a suitable amendment to the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 through the Employment Relations Bill which is currently before Parliament.

Officials are considering all representations on this issue. The amendment itself will be drawn as tightly as possible to ensure that only genuine intentional communities are exempted.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), of 3 February 1999,Official Report, column 622, what intentional organisations

currently have immunity from export prohibitions under the terms of the Intentional Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act 1968. [83025]

Dr. Howells

Copies of the Orders in Council which confer this immunity are in the Library of the House.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking on the Low Pay Commission's Review of the National Minimum Wage Accommodation offset, with specific reference to intentional communities. [83010]

Mr. Ian McCartney

We have accepted the Commission's recommendation that there should be no immediate change to the rate of the accommodation offset in the National Minimum Wage Regulations but that the Commission should monitor the use and impact of the offset and report on its future application in their second report.

The Commission also recommended that members of intentional communities should be regarded as volunteers rather than workers and therefore should not be covered by the minimum wage. The Government accept this recommendation and propose to introduce a suitable amendment to the 1998 Act through the Employment Relations Bill which is currently before Parliament.