HC Deb 14 July 1997 vol 298 cc67-8W
Mr. Colvin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if her Department will assess the impact of the national minimum wage on small businesses in Hampshire; and if she will make a statement. [7665]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The likely impact of the introduction of the national minimum wage on small businesses is one of the issues to be considered by the independent Low Pay Commission before it issues its recommendation on the level at which the national minimum wage might be set. To help in this deliberation the Commission members will include representation from small business.

Mr. Colvin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what timetable has been established for the Low Pay Commission(a) to reach a conclusion on the recommended level of the minimum wage and (b) to propose measures relating to the implementation of the minimum wage. [7657]

Mr. McCartney

Professor George Bain, the Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, will be working up a timetable for the Commission to enable it to produce a recommendation on the level at which the national minimum wage might be introduced.

Mr. Colvin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the terms of reference of the Low Pay Commission; and if she will make a statement. [7650]

Mr. McCartney

The terms of reference of the independent Low Pay Commission will be published in due course. We will ask the Commission, in making its recommendation on the level at which the national minimum wage might be set, to take into account the economic circumstances prevailing at the time.