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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Lord Fowler (Conservative), on Wednesday, 10 May 1995, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 45 members in total.

LABOUR PLANS FOR A NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

That this House deplores the deceit of the Labour Party in failing to declare a figure for the national minimum wage; notes the report in the Guardian of 10th May that Mr Jack Dromey, husband of the honourable Member for Peckham, and challenger to Mr Morris for the TGWU leadership, `said that the TUC should campaign to persuade Labour to adopt a minimum wage figure of between ??4 and ??5 per hour before the election. He said he was confident that the TUC's policy will be ??4 per hour - "indeed, if you look ahead two years, it may be closure to ??5 per hour... we should seek support for that from the Labour Party".' further notes that studies by the OECD and IMF have stated that the policy of the minimum wage would cost jobs; recognises that a minimum wage in Britain of ??4 per hour, with only a half restoration of differentials would cost 750,000 jobs; reminds the honourable Member for Peckham of the comment of the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party on LWT, 25th May 1992 that 'I knew the consequences (of the minimum wage) were that there'd be some shake out (in the jobs market), any silly fool knew that'; and calls on the Labour Party to come clean on the level of the minimum wage and end this gross deceit of the British people.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

LABOUR PLANS FOR A NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE (1111A1)
The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Denis MacShane (primary, Labour) and tabled on Wednesday, 10 May 1995. It has been signed by 125 members in total.
leave out from `deplores' to end and add `the drive by Ministers to create poverty in work based on hourly pay rates of under ??2 or ??3 an hour which shame a civilised society and which require subsidies by the tax-payer to low-wage firms via family and housing benefits to wage-earners earning so little they cannot sustain a decent family life; notes that the majority of OECD countries with minimum wage systems have a better record of both job creation and economic growth since 1980 than the United Kingdom; reaffirms the statement of Sir Winston Churchill made in this House that `It is a serious national evil that any class of His Majesty's subjects should recieve less than a living wage in return for their utmost exertions', and agrees with the statement of Lord Gilmour in the New Statesman that if the Prime Minister wishes to `create a classless society, it's not at all obvious that the best way of doing so is to make the poorest people even poorer'; notes that in the United States, Mr Newt Gingrich recently voted to increase the US minimum wage and that, in France, President Jacques Chirac, supports the French national monthly minimum salary, SMIC; welcomes the increasing international research showing that a minimum wage increases job stability and employment; and therefore expresses support for the minimum wage campaign launched by the honourable Member for Peckham and the TUC based on the fullest debate and partnership dialogue following a change of Government between employers and unions about the level at which the minimum wage should be set in the light of economic circumstances prevailing at the time and the best practicable manner in administering a minimum wage so that it place a floor under poverty pay exploitation, and sends a message to all citizens that they again live in one nation under an administration that accepts its responsibilities to eradicate poverty and heal social division instead of the present Government's policy of exacerbating both'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
1111 
1111A1 
Session
1994-95
Subjects
Economic policy Minimum wage Unemployment Labour
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk