§ Mr. Tom KingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what research has been commissioned and what estimates have been made by her Department, and what information presented to her, regarding the costs per annum to the DTI budget of the introduction of a minimum wage at(a) £3.50 an hour, (b) £4 an hour and (c) £4.40 an hour; and if she will make a statement. [2109]
§ Mrs. BeckettWe will ask the independent Low Pay Commission, before it reaches a recommendation on the level at which the national minimum wage might be set, to take into account all the economic circumstances, including its likely impact. I will not speculate about the possible effects of hypothetical levels before the Commission has had a chance to consider the issues.