To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to her Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour. [110434]

I estimate that there will be no financial impact. The Department's minimum wage under our current pay agreement is £5.25 per hour based on a 37-hour week. We have no reason to believe that DFID's contractor costs will rise due to the increase in the minimum wage.