§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the rules are for payment of the national minimum wage to(a) 16 to 17-year-olds in employment, (b) 16 to 17-year-olds in employment but exercising the right to time off for study, (c) 16 to 17year-olds on publicly funded modern apprenticeships and (d) 18 to 24-year-olds on publicly funded modern apprenticeships. [106656]
§ Alan JohnsonAll 16 to 17-year-olds and apprentices aged 18 are exempt from the national minimum wage. Apprentices aged 19 to 25 (inclusive) are exempt from the minimum wage during the first 12 months of their apprenticeship and entitled to receive at least the rate of minimum wage appropriate to their age thereafter.