§ 24. Mr. St. AubynTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy on the application of the minimum wage to house-sitters. [159087]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe minimum wage covers workers and if a house-sitter meets the definition of a worker then he or she is covered. There is flexibility in the regulations to cater for the unusual arrangements involved in house-sitting and my officials are meeting the agencies to discuss this. A case involving house-sitters is 771W due to be heard by an employment tribunal later this month. It is not appropriate, therefore, for the Government to comment further.