To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Government plan next to uprate the national minimum wage. (270222)

The independent Low Pay Commission will make its recommendations on the national minimum wage to Government by 1 May. The Government will respond to these recommendations shortly after, and will inform the House by Parliamentary Statement of any changes to the national minimum wage rates. Any changes to the rates will be brought into effect from 1 October 2009.