§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the cost to employers of introducing the minimum wage to(a) 17-year-olds and (b) 16 and 17-year-olds at (i) the youth rate and (ii) the adult rate; and if she will make a statement. [122875]
§ Mr. Sutcliffe[holding answer 3 July 2003]: In forming its minimum wage policy, the Government takes into account the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission. The Commission presented their fourth report to the Government in March 2003.
In that report, the Commission recommended that they should be asked to consider the possible introduction of a minimum wage rate for 16 to 17-year-olds. The Government accepted this recommendation and has invited the Commission to look at this issue in parallel with a wider government review looking at education and training policy and the system of financial support for young people. The cost to employers will be one factor the Commission will wish to consider. The Commission have been asked to report by the end of February 2004 and we will of course consider their report very carefully.