§ Mr. LyonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employers in Scotland have failed to pay the national minimum wage to the 18 to 21 age group since its introduction. [59646]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Inland Revenue enforce the minimum wage on behalf of the Department. They completed almost 1,700 investigations in Scotland between April 1999 and 31 March 2002, with noncompliance being discovered in 27 per cent. of cases. During this period wages arrears of £600,000 were identified in Scotland. There are no separate figures for the 18 to 21 age group.
§ Mr. LyonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will abolish the lower rate of the minimum wage. [59644]
§ Alan JohnsonThe national minimum wage rates are set by Government following recommendations from the independent Low Pay Commission. The Commission recommended the establishment of a lower rate in their first report (June 1998). The Government were happy to accept that recommendation and we have no plans to 993W abolish the separate rate for those aged 18 to 21 inclusive. We expect shortly to issue the Commission with new terms of reference and will carefully consider any recommendations that they subsequently submit to us.
§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people aged(a) between 18 and 21 and (b) over 21 years are receiving the national minimum wage in Scotland, broken down by parliamentary constituency or nearest available area. [60271]
§ Alan JohnsonEstimates for beneficiaries of the national minimum wage by parliamentary constituency or nearest area are not available.
Around 110,000 people in Scotland stood to benefit from the October 2001 increase in the national minimum wage.
About one in 15 of the people who stood to benefit from the October 2001 increase in the national minimum wage in the UK as a whole were aged 18 to 21.
§ Mr. LyonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Strathkelvin and Bearsden are receiving the minimum wage. [60534]
§ Alan JohnsonEstimates for beneficiaries of the National Minimum Wage by parliamentary constituency are not available.
Around 110,000 people in Scotland stood to benefit from the October 2001 increase in the National Minimum Wage.