Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many (a) direct employees, (b) contractors and (c) agency workers who work in his Department and relevant agencies and public bodies receive a wage below that of the (i) UK Real Living Wage outside of Greater London and (ii) London Living Wage inside of Greater London, as determined by the Living Wage Foundation.

No permanent directly employed staff within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are paid an hourly rate less than that determined by the Living Wage Foundation.

The Planning Inspectorate employs 11 apprentices on a wage below that determined by the Living Wage Foundation who are entitled to 20% time off for training during working hours.

None of the department’s other arms-length bodies pay a wage below that determined by the Living Wage Foundation.

Information on rates of pay for people working for the department’s third-party contractors is not held centrally.

This Government is committed to paying people a decent living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2022, the National Living Wage increased to £9.50 per hour. By 2024, the Government have committed that the National Living Wage will reach 66% of median UK earnings.