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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what comparative assessment he has made of productivity levels of workers aged under and over 25 in the (a) hospitality and (b) retail sectors; and what account is taken of such productivity data in determining the level of the National Minimum Wage.

While labour productivity statistics are estimated by sector, there are no official statistics estimating the productivity of workers by their age.

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) recommends National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates to Government based on detailed consideration of the evidence on the economy (including productivity statistics), labour market and pay, as well as wide ranging consultation evidence. Earlier this year the Government accepted all of the LPC’s recommendations for the NMW rates that should come in to force in October this year for workers aged under 25.