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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason it is his policy that the national minimum wage for workers aged under 23 is lower than that for other workers.

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. 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 2023, Government will increase the National Minimum Wage rates for workers under 18 by 9.7% to £5.28, 18-20 year olds by 9.7% to £7.49 and 21-23 year olds by 10.9% to £10.18. The Government is also committed to reducing the age threshold for the National Living Wage to 21 and over by 2024.