Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to introduce a national minimum wage to help with the cost of living.

The Government considers the independent and expert independent advice of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) when setting the NMW rates. The Low Pay Commission conducts extensive consultation, analysis and evidence gathering when recommending the minimum wage rates balancing the requirements between the needs of workers, the affordability for businesses and the impact on the economy.

On 1 April 2022, the Government will increase the National Living Wage (NLW) for over 23s by 6.6% to £9.50. This keeps the Government on track to achieve its manifesto commitment for the NLW to equal two-thirds of median earnings by 2024. This 59p increase is the largest increase to the NLW since its introduction. A full-time worker on the rate will see their annual earnings rise by over £1,000.

All the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates for younger workers and apprentices will also increase on 1 April 2022. We expect the increases to the NLW and NMW in April 2022 to give a pay rise to around two and a half million workers.