§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 375, to the hon. Member for Stretford, on what date work on estimating the effect of a national minimum wage first began; and when it was completed.
§ Mr. HowardIn recent years my Department has considered the effect of minimum wages on a number of 815W occasions. Work estimating the effect of a national minimum wage in the context of the social charter started in early October 1989. After consultation between officials, both within and outside my Department, the work was completed towards the end of January 1990, and a note explaining the method used was placed in the Library on 2 February.