We must ensure that every sector involved is able to manage the increase, and the Low Pay Commission is confident that that is the case. The private care sector plays an important role in our society and it is valued. We would not introduce any measures that would threaten its future, and we are confident that the measures that I have announced today will not do so. The implication of what the hon. Gentleman said is that people working in the private care sector should not be paid the national minimum wage, and we disagree.
Friend is absolutely right.
We have taken people out of poverty pay through the national minimum wage, which was introduced in the face of total opposition from the Conservatives. I have a couple of questions, the first of which relates to the long-term future of the national minimum wage. Secondly, will the right hon. Such people cannot avail themselves of the national minimum wage but increasingly receive less than the national minimum wage. Column 30 minimum wage.