Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Ann McKechin Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd July 2014

(9 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ann McKechin Portrait Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab)
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2. What steps he is taking to incentivise employers in Scotland to pay the living wage.

David Mundell Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)
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The Government support businesses that choose to pay the living wage, where it is affordable and does not cost jobs.

Ann McKechin Portrait Ann McKechin
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The Minister will be aware that many people in Scotland have started the holiday season and packed their bags, and many will be visiting the beautiful islands of Scotland, but last week the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers reported that foreign-resident seafarers who are working on the ferries are being paid as little as £2.35 an hour. That is a disgrace to Scotland, and I urge the Minister to use his offices to work with the Scottish Government to persuade the ferry companies to pay not only the minimum wage but a living wage to every single one of their workers.

David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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I most certainly take on board what the hon. Lady says and I will make representations in that regard. I am sure she welcomes the fact that earlier this month the UK Government published a list of employers who had not paid the minimum wage. Unfortunately, two of them were in Scotland.