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Press Release 20 October 1997 LOW PAY COMMISSION ON MINIMUM WAGE FACT FINDING TOUR OF SCOTLAND The Low Pay Commission, the independent body that will recommend to Government the initial rate for the National Minimum Wage, is in Scotland today to gather information on the likely impact of the minimum wage in Scotland. During the day the Commission will meet a wide range of people - employers, employees, voluntary organisations, low paid and unemployed people - to hear their views on what effect a national minimum wage might have on them. The Commission has already written to over 600 organisations. Today’s visit is the first of a series the Commission will make across the United Kingdom to meet people and gather the evidence they need on which to base their recommendations on the minimum wage to the Prime Minister. Professor George Bain, Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, said in Glasgow this morning: “We have to recommend to the Prime Minister an initial rate for the minimum wage that will apply in every sector of the economy right across the United Kingdom. Therefore it is important that we visit all parts of the United Kingdom, starting today with Scotland, so we can find out what effect the minimum wage might have. “There are lots of theories about the minimum wage. What we must do is meet the people who it might affect and who really count - small businesses, shop keepers, workers and unemployed people - to find out their thoughts on the minimum wage. “Questions we will ask include: what should be included in the minimum wage - tips, bonuses, overtime? Should there be different rates for people between the ages of 16 - 25? What will the minimum wage mean for particular business and voluntary sectors? “No doubt we will hear a lot of different answers to these questions. Our job is to reach a recommendation that is acceptable to all.” Professor Bain thanked the various Scottish organisations that helped plan today’s visit to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee and Inverness on Wednesday. “We are extremely grateful for the assistance from Scottish employer, employee and voluntary organisations. They have the local knowledge and contacts we need to make sure we meet the right people in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Inverness. “Our recommendations to the Prime Minister must be based on having all the facts in front of us. Today’s visit to Scotland is part of the important process to gather these facts.” Commissioners will hear evidence from the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Church of Scotland in Glasgow in the morning. They will then have lunch with representatives from over 30 organisations. In the afternoon the Commission will split into groups and have further meetings in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. These have been organised by the Scottish Trade Union Congress (Glasgow), the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce (Edinburgh) and Scottish Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Scottish Low Pay Unit (Dundee). A group of Commissioners will travel on to Inverness for meetings and visits on Wednesday with the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Board. Notes to Editors The Low Pay Commission is an independent advisory body set up to recommend to the Prime Minister the initial level at which the National Minimum Wage might be set. The Commission was established in July 1997 following the Government’s announcement in the Queen’s speech in May 1997 to introduce legislation in the current session of Parliament for a National Minimum Wage. The National Minimum Wage Bill was published on 27 November. The Commission has been asked to make its recommendations by May 1998, following which it will be for the Government to make the final decision on the level of the national minimum wage. The terms of reference for the Commission were confirmed in September 1997. There are nine Commissioners, drawn from a range of employee, employer and academic backgrounds and chaired by Professor George Bain, Principal of the London Business School. All Commissioners are unpaid, and serve in an individual capacity and not as representatives of the organisation they work for. The Low Pay Commission has gathered evidence in Scotland and Northern Ireland and today’s visit is one of at least seven other country/regional visits also taking in Wales, South West England, the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside, the East Midlands and the West Midlands. Interested individuals and organisations that wish to submit written evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the National Minimum Wage should contact: Mrs Louise Elston, Low Pay Commission, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, LONDON SW1W 9SS. Tel: 020 7215 5888. Low Pay Commission Elizabeth House 39 York Road London SE1 7NQ Tel. 020 7855 4553 | |
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