Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking ensure that staff working for Government executive agencies are guaranteed the real living wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation.

The UK Living Wage and London Living Wage figures produced by the Living Wage Foundation, are not statutory figures, and are not therefore legally binding on employers.

The UK government applies a statutory National Living Wage for all employees over the age of 25, and National Minimum Wage rates for those under 25, through a policy produced by BEIS and audited and enforced by HMRC.

Remuneration for all grades below the Senior Civil Service is delegated to individual departments, executive agencies and other organisations. While organisations must comply with the statutory minimum rates, it is for each one to determine pay above this level, and whether or not to match the rates set by the Living Wage Foundation.