To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many employees in (a) her Department and (b) its associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies were affected by the rise in the minimum wage on 1 October. (93478)

No members of staff in my Department, its associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies were affected by the rise in the minimum wage on 1 October 2006 as all our staff are currently paid at a rate which is above the new minimum.