Question
I recently received an email from a publican in my constituency, who said: “I cannot find people willing to work minimum wage because they earn more on benefits, I cannot give my experienced staff a pay rise because minimum wage increases eat into my budget, and often people will turn up for interviews only to demonstrate that they are ‘looking for work’ at the Jobcentre before bunking off on their first day.” Can the Minister explain why he has used the Budget to compound the problems of an unaffordable minimum wage and an out-of-control welfare system?
Answer
It is important that people get paid for the work that they do in a fair way. It is also important that we support our pubs, which are much loved in communities across the country. That is why one of the first announcements that the Prime Minister made when he came into office in July was an extra 20% cut in business rates bills for pubs and live music venues. That was confirmed at the Budget and will be implemented from next year. It will help pubs across our country to thrive, including those in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency.60% vibes
Verdict: RED (8/100)
The reply does not answer the question as asked. The part about the minimum wage and pressures on employers receives only a general line that people should be paid fairly, and the rest of the reply concerns a business rates cut for pubs. The part about welfare and the Budget is not addressed at all. A member of the public would not get the specific information they requested and would likely need to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Government's rationale for the Budget's measures on the minimum wage, given the concern that they add to affordability pressures on employers. | Partially Addressed | Generic MISREADS QUESTION | The reply never mentions the minimum wage or affordability pressures on employers. It pivots to a pubs business rates cut (statements 2-5), and only the vague 'paid fairly' platitude in statement 1 gestures at the pay subject, without giving any rationale for the minimum wage measures. |
| What is the Government's rationale for the Budget's measures on the welfare system, given the concern that they add to welfare pressures. | Not Addressed | Generic MISREADS QUESTION | None of the statements refer to the welfare system, welfare pressures, or any Budget welfare measure; the whole reply concerns pubs and business rates. |