PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Living Wage (14 July 2015)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the (a) Low Pay Commission and (b) Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University on the National Living Wage.

Asked by:
Imran Hussain (Independent)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has not held a meeting with either the Low Pay Commission or the Centre for Research in Social Policy to discuss the National Living Wage.

However, the Low Pay Commission has been asked to provide a report to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding the level of the National Living Wage in the future. This report should provide an assessment of the pace of increase to reach the Government’s ambition of 60% of median earnings by 2020. In making its recommendations on the National Minimum Wage, the Low Pay Commission takes into account a wide range of evidence from across the economy. This process will continue for the National Living Wage too.

As leaders of the Minimum Income Standard programme, which forms the basis for setting the Living Wage, the Centre for Research in Social Policy are welcome and encouraged to provide evidence during the Low Pay Commission’s public consultation regarding future rates.

Answered by:
Nick Boles (Independent)
21 July 2015