HC Deb 26 July 2000 vol 354 cc692-3W
Mr. Berry

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 2000,Official Report, column 592W, on the effect of the minimum wage on household income of different income deciles, what estimate he has made of the percentage effect on the population estimated in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to have below half average household income. [132020]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government are implementing a comprehensive strategy to tackle the causes of child and pensioner poverty. The National Minimum Wage, in providing a statutory level beneath which pay cannot fall, forms part of that strategy.

The National Minimum Wage was introduced in April 1999. It is therefore not possible to estimate its effect on incomes in 1997–98 and 1998–99. Income information for 1999–2000 will be available next year in "Households Below Average Income" which is produced by the Department for Social Security.