HC Deb 26 May 1999 vol 332 c178W
20. Kali Mountford

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many companies are signed up to the New Deal in Northern Ireland. [84459]

Mr. McFall

At the 23 April 1999, 2,646 Northern Ireland companies had confirmed their support for New Deal by signing an Employment Agreement.

Mr. Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are in place to ensure that employers receiving subsidies under the New Deal are complying completely with the minimum wage legislation for all their employees, including those subsidised under the New Deal. [85120]

Mr. McFall

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Cecil Walker, dated 25 May 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training & Employment Agency to reply to your question about the National Minimum Wage and, specifically, its implications for employees in jobs which attract a New Deal subsidy. The role of implementing National Minimum Wage policy lies with the Department of Trade & Industry and the monitoring and enforcing functions have been assigned to the Inland Revenue. The Training & Employment Agency has no direct responsibility in these matters but the Agency's JobCentre staff are offering guidance based on DTI explanatory leaflets for both employers and employees. They are also signposting enquiries to the National Minimum Wage telephone information and enquiries lines. (Copies of the DTI leaflets are enclosed.) The Agency now requires all employers reporting vacancies, for which job applicants are sought, to confirm that at least National Minimum Wage rates will apply. On the specific issue of New Deal employees' National Minimum Wage entitlements, Personal Advisers maintain a counselling and monitoring role during the subsidy period with employees and employers to ensure that all New Deal criteria and job recruitment agreements are being honoured. I hope you find this reply useful.