HC Deb 26 April 2004 vol 420 cc736-7W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the terms of reference for the Low Pay Commission's Report of 2004; why the monitoring of enforcement and compliance with regard to the National Minimum Wage was not included as in previous years; and whether such matters will be included in the Low Pay Commission remit in the future. [167301]

Mr. Sutcliffe

The Low Pay Commission monitored and evaluated issues connected with minimum wage—including enforcement—in their last full report in 2003.

The remit for the Commission s 2004 Report was specifically drawn to cover two issues raised in the 2003 Report: to consider whether any fine-tuning was needed to the proposed October 2004 increases; and to consider the possible advantages and disadvantages of a minimum wage rate for 16–17 year olds.

Further remits for the Low Pay Commission will be announced to Parliament in the usual way.