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 introduce a specific minimum wage for care workers.

The Government is incredibly proud of all our health and social care staff and recognise their extraordinary commitment. The staff who make up the paid social care workforce provide an invaluable service to the nation. Regarding a specific minimum wage for care workers, a single national rate is clear and simple for employers to understand that all workers must be paid the National Minimum Wage. The Government is on track to achieve its manifesto commitment for the NLW to equal two-thirds of median earnings by 2024. This Government has always and will continue to encourage employers to pay their workers more than the statutory minimum when they can afford to do so.