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Employment Bill [HL]

The Government deserve to be congratulated on thinking this one out so that, without triggering the national minimum wage legislation, expenses rather wider than those incurred during the performance of duties are covered. These expenses are ““to enable the worker””—I am sorry the Government let that word slip through; I shall say ““the employee””—““to perform his duties””. As the Minister has explained, this would cover travel to and from work, some refreshment and childcare so long as the expenses are reasonably incurred. My only question for the Minister is why accommodation expenses which are incurred in order to enable the worker to perform his duties, and are reasonably so incurred, are not covered as well. It might be in the practicalities that accommodation expenses of even the most modest kind would inevitably be considerable compared with mere travel on the bus or the cost of lunch. Can the Minister explain why in no circumstances could expenses for accommodation necessary to do the voluntary job be covered by the amendment?