POVERTY AND RIGHTS AT WORK

Early day motion 511, tabled 30 March 1999 by Michael Clapham (Labour). Signed by 68 members.

That this House notes with concern that the Treasury's latest study shows that 40 per cent. of children are born into poverty and that more than a quarter will never escape it and although overall living standards have increased by 40 per cent. since 1979 the poorest children were no better off in the mid 1990s than they were in the late 1970s; views the minimum wage as an important aspect in the fight against poverty; and considers that any proposals to remove basic rights including the minimum wage from those who work in small firms is unacceptable because the cost of exclusion and prolonged poverty is a price too high to pay.

Signatures by party: Labour 57, Labour/Co-operative 5, Liberal Democrat 5, Plaid Cymru 1.