§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to his Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour. [110432]
§ Ruth KellyThe estimated cost in 2003–04 of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour is zero. The Department, and associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies, all have pay ranges for their lowest paid staff that provide salaries exceeding the new level of the national minimum wage.