Low Pay Commission

HC Deb 12 June 2002 vol 386 cc1269-70W

Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Low Pay Commission has been given new terms of reference. [61929]

Ms Hewitt

We have today given the Low Pay Commission new terms of reference. The Government have asked the commission to continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of the minimum wage and to make recommendations, if appropriate, for changes to the levels of the main and development rates. The commission has been asked to report to the Government by the end of February 2003. Copies of the terms of reference have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

I am pleased to announce that we have also recently made two appointments to the Low Pay Commission. The new chair of the commission is Adair Turner, vice chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe and the new employer member is Angie Risley from Whitbread Group plc.