To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the impact of increasing the minimum wage (a) in line with average earnings, (b) to £4.17 per hour, (c) to £4.87 per hour, (d) to £5.00 per hour and (e) to £5.30 per hour, on the cost of salaries of departmental employees (i) in total and (ii) for each nation of the United Kingdom in the next financial year. [90601]

Increasing the minimum wage in the manner described would have no impact on the cost of salaries for employees of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.