Living Wage

15/03/2012

I was pleased to speak recently in a Chamber Debate about the living wage. Supply and demand can drive progress, but there must be a manageable system based on human values — a decent living wage as part of the regulated limit below which no one should fall. Read more of this post

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Living Wage – Meeting of the Parliament, 01 March 2012

14/03/2012

As a member of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee, I was pleased to take part in the inquiry into the living wage in December and January. I wholly support the committee report, and I would like to address both the wider economics and the morality of the living-wage argument. Read more of this post

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Living Wage Inquiry – Local Government and Regeneration Committee, 18 January 2012

14/03/2012

I am interested in what you have said, and would be interested to hear your comments on one thing that you did not touch on. Most people agree that, broadly speaking, the living wage is a good idea; it is just a matter of how, when, how much and so on. You did not mention competition from outwith th…

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Living Wage Inquiry – Local Government and Regeneration Committee, 21 December 2011

14/03/2012

I am very much in favour of the living wage—either now, or as an aspiration in some areas. It is to be welcomed.

The Scottish Government has experience of the issue, so I will ask two questions about the cost of the living wage. Cabinet secretary, you are known as a master of numbers; can…

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Living Wage Inquiry – Local Government and Regeneration Committee, 14 December 2011

14/03/2012

I have a devil’s-advocate question about the level of the living wage. I do not know quite how you established the London living wage. Have you discovered that, in terms of differentials, the amount that is paid is enough to attract applicants for the work? You mentioned …

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Living Wage Inquiry – Local Government and Regeneration Committee, 07 December 2011

14/03/2012

Good morning, gentlemen. I am keen on the concept of the living wage and its implementation. However, the issue has been raised with me several times that when a whole family is living on benefits it is just not worth going out to work for an extra 50p or whatever an hour. Will the living wage be en…

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