§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Low Pay Commission is established on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement. [111659]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Low Pay Commission was placed on a statutory base in November 1998 following the commencement of provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. The Government have announced that they will ask the Commission to monitor the national minimum wage and produce a further report, including whether there is a case for an increase and if so to what level, by July 2001. Professor George Bain has accepted the Prime Minister's invitation and agreed to continue to chair the Commission.