§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to include accommodation and meals in calculation of employees' earnings for the purpose of the minimum wage. [47526]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 25 June 1998]: We have accepted the Low Pay Commission's recommendation that, with the exception of accommodation, benefits should be excluded from the calculation of employees' earnings for the purpose of the national minimum wage.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the impact on employment of the proposed minimum wage, assuming(a) half restoration of differentials, (b) three-quarters restoration of differentials and (c) full restoration of differentials. [47562]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 25 June 1998]: The Government share the Low Pay Commission's view that a national minimum wage set at the level proposed should not lead to a significant impact on employment, and any pressure to restore pay differentials will be limited and localised.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the definition of a trainee for the purposes of exemption from the minimum wage. [47521]
52W
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 25 June 1998]: All those on formal apprenticeships will be exempt from the national minimum wage. The criteria for defining who is affected will be set out in the Regulations implementing the National Minimum Wage Bill.