HC Deb 29 June 1987 vol 118 cc15-6W
Mr. Battle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to introduce a minimum wage in line with the Council of Europe's decency threshold; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

No. A national minimum wage would raise employers' costs and threaten jobs, including the jobs of those it was designed to help. Moreover, there is no such thing as a Council of Europe threshold for a minimum acceptable level of earnings. None has ever been endorsed either by any member state of the Council of Europe or by the governmental committee on the European Social Charter.

Mr. Battle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of adults in Leeds, West constituency whose wages are below the Council of Europe's decency threshold recommendations.

Mr. Lee

There is no such thing as a Council of Europe decency threshold recommendation on a minimum acceptable level of earnings. None has ever been endorsed either by any member state of the Council of Europe or by its governmental committee on the European Social Charter.

Estimates of the numbers of employees by level of earnings are not available for individual parliamentary constituencies.

Mrs. Mahon

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the extent of the low-pay problem in West-Yorkshire is in breach of the Council of Europe's European social charter.

Mr. Nicholls

The European Social Charter does not specify any level of earnings which should be regarded as an acceptable minimum.