§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for (Employment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 9 June, c. 165, if he will now estimate the figures assuming a national minimum wage of £1.65 an hour.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 1 December]: The following table gives estimates, based on the new earnings survey for April 1980]: of the direct addition to the national wage bill caused by raising the pay of full-time workers—those working over 30 hours a week or more—over 18 who are paid less than £1.60 an lour and £1.70 an hour up to those levels. An estimate of the effects of a minimum wage at £1.65 an hour cannot readily be given.
92Wmeet their needs for trained manpower, we are in no position to ensure that redundant craft apprentices are always able to complete their training. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, however, that when an apprentice is declared redundant the appropriate industry training board or other training body attempts to secure his continued training with either an employer or some other training establishment. The MSC funds adoption grants in order to encourage employers to recruit redundant apprentices; approximately £1 million has been made available by the MSC in the current financial year. I know of no policy statement on this matter. The basic policy is well established but is operated flexibly and kept under review.