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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the National Living Wage on the economy; and if he will make a statement.

In April 2016, the Government introduced a new National Living Wage (NLW). This year increases in the minimum wage gave over two million of the lowest paid workers a pay rise of over 2 per cent in real terms. Over the year, full time workers aged 25 and over on the NLW will see their earnings grow by more than £600.

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) draw upon a wide range of independent research and stakeholder consultation in monitoring the impact of the NLW. To date, they have found limited evidence of an impact on hours worked and employment.