Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what proportion of staff (a) of his Department and (b) working for companies contracted by his Department in Scotland are paid less than the living wage.

There are no direct employees in this Department paid less than the living wage, either nationally or in Scotland.

We do not centrally hold details of the pay levels of staff working for companies contracted by the Department. However on 1 April 2014 my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed a requirement for companies contracted by the Department to increase the wages of their lowest paid workers to £7.85.