division_name: Opposition Day &#8212; [17th Allotted Day] &#8212; Banking &#8212; National Minimum Wage
motion: <p class="" pid="a.911.2/1" pwmotiontext="yes">I beg to move,</p>
  
  <p class="" pid="a.911.2/2" pwmotiontext="yes">That this House celebrates the 15th anniversary of the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, which falls this year, and the contribution it has made to making work pay, boosting living standards and tackling in-work poverty; notes that, before the National Minimum Wage was established, poverty pay was widespread and that the Conservative Party and many Liberal Democrat hon. Members opposed its introduction; further notes that families are on average &#163;1,600 worse off a year and that the National Minimum Wage is now worth less in real terms than in May 2010; further notes that the Government has not backed up its promise to name and shame firms not paying the minimum wage; calls on the Government to strengthen enforcement of the National Minimum Wage, including by increasing fines for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage and giving local authorities enforcement powers; and further calls on the Government to encourage employers to pay a living wage and take action to restore the value of the National Minimum Wage so that the UK can earn its way out of the cost of living crisis and to help control the cost of social security.</p>
  
  <p class="" pid="a.921.0/1" pwmotiontext="yes">I beg to move an amendment, to leave out from &#8220;House&#8221; to the end of the Question and add:</p>
  
  <p class="" pid="a.921.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;notes that since 2010, the Government has increased the National Minimum Wage each year, despite the worst recession in living memory, to protect the income of the low paid and increase their wages relative to average earnings, and is cutting taxes for the low paid to boost take home pay by &#163;705 a year, taking 2.7 million out of income tax altogether; welcomes increased employment under this Government, which is at its highest ever level; notes that the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked the Low Pay Commission for an assessment of how it might achieve a higher National Minimum Wage in the future without damaging employment; further notes that the Government has maintained a central enforcement body that covers all areas of the UK and ensures a consistent approach and high quality service; and further notes that the Government is quadrupling fines for employers in breach of paying the National Minimum Wage and has already made it easier to name and shame employers who flout the rules.&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p pid="a.955.3/1" pwmotiontext="yes">Question put (<phrase class="standing-order" code="31" pwmotiontext="yes" title="2">Standing Order No. 31(<i>2</i>)</phrase>), That the original words stand part of the Question.</p>
  
  <p class="italic" pid="a.955.3/2" pwmotiontext="yes">The House divided:</p>
  
  <p pid="a.955.3/3" pwmotiontext="yes">Ayes 235, Noes 299.</p>