§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her oral statement of 16 December 1997,Official Report, column 167, concerning variations in the level of the proposed minimum wage, if she categorises the armed services as a sector. [32799]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The National Minimum Wage Bill does not provide for variation in the level of the national minimum wage by sector of employment. The armed forces are exempt from the minimum wage by sector of employment. The armed forces are exempt from the minimum wage on the grounds set out by my hon. Friend the Minister of State which are reported in the Official Report, Standing Committee D, 5 February 1998, in particular column 777.