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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he will take steps to ensure that all workers aged (a) under 16 and (b) 16 to 18 are paid the real living wage as minimum.

The Government is committed to increasing the National Minimum Wage as much as possible without damaging employment prospects for younger workers. This is why on 1 April 2022, Government increased the National Minimum Wage rates for both workers under 18 and 18-20 years old by 4.1% to £4.81 and £6.83 respectively. For younger workers, the priorities in those first years are to secure work and gain experience which has always been reflected in the National Minimum Wage rate structure.