petitions

John McDonnell Excerpts

Tuesday 19th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab)]

This petition calls for a living wage to be paid to all those employed by the royal household. It is part of the decade-long campaign by London citizens to ensure that all Londoners are paid the London living wage. The petition, signed by more than 2,000 people, reads as follows:

To the House of Commons.

The Humble Petition of residents of London and others,

Declares that cleaners working for the Royal Households in London are paid £6.45 per hour even though the London Living Wage was set at £7.85 until April 2011—

you will know, Mr Speaker, that it has now been increased to £8.30—

declares that cleaners in the House of Commons and House of Lords are paid at the rate of the London Living wage; further declares that the Petitioners believe that as £30 million of taxpayers’ money is paid to the Royal family annually for the upkeep of the Royal Households it is clear that the London living wage of £7.85—

that should now read £8.30—

is affordable.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to encourage the Royal Households to ensure that all cleaners working within the Royal Households are paid the London living wage of £8.30 per hour, a rate that is supported by the Mayor of London.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.,

[P000947]