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Local MP welcomes rise in minimum wage Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate, has welcomed news that the minimum wage is set to rise.Labour Ministers have accepted a report from the Low Pay Commission that will see the adult minimum wage rate increase from £5.05 to £5.35, the youth rate for 18-21 year olds increase from £4.25 to £4.45, and the minimum wage for 16-17 year olds increase from £3.00 to £3.30 from October 2006. Over 1.3 million of the UK's lowest-paid workers will see their wages increase in October as a result of the increases. Dr Stoate commented that, "Labour's minimum wage is a policy that has made a dramatic difference to thousands of peoples lives in Dartford, particularly given the high number of retail jobs in the area. Today’s announcement should ensure that the battle to reduce poverty in Dartford edges nearer to a successful conclusion.” “I firmly support the Government in its continuing efforts to increase the pay of this country’s lowest paid workers. “ Work and Pensions Minister Alan Johnson added that, "This latest rise in the minimum wage will mean that around 1.3 million workers will get an increase in their pay from October, the majority of whom are low paid women. It's right that at a time when our economy is generally strong with the longest ever period of sustained growth and nearly 2.4 million more jobs than 1997, that we continue to help those who get paid the least. "The Commission shares our aim to help the low paid through an increased minimum wage, while making sure that we do not damage their employment prospects by setting it too high. They have concluded that there is no strong evidence to support the contention that the minimum wage has had any detrimental effect on employment levels in low paying sectors." "Ten years ago David Cameron was campaigning against the minimum wage and predicting it would 'send unemployment straight back up.' Yet since its introduction in 1999 the minimum wage has benefited thousands of low paid workers, the vast majority of whom are women. Today's minimum wage rise shows how Labour has changed Britain for the better since 1997." |
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© 2008 Dr Howard Stoate - Member of Parliament for Dartford
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