Last updated - 18th August 2008

Celebrating 10 years of the National Minimum Wage

This year marks the tenth anniversary the National Minimum Wage Act. It remains one of the government’s proudest achievements having benefited millions of people.

Almost everyone who works in the UK is legally entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage – that includes people employed permanently, by an agency, part-time workers, casual workers, or people on a short-term contract.

Everyone deserves a proper wage, and we don’t want to go back to the days when people could earn just £1.20 for an hour’s hard work.

Ten years on and we are building on this success and strengthening fairness in the workplace by making tips additional to the minimum wage.  

Hop, skip and jump over to Camberwell Green Camberwell Green
Olympics handover

Southwark is warming up for the 2012 Olympics, and will be marking the Olympics handover in Camberwell Green on Sunday 24th August 2008 from 1pm to 5pm. Everyone is invited to celebrate Southwark's cultural and sporting diversity, as the official Olympic flag and begin the countdown to the 2012 Olympics.

Events on the day include:

• The opening speech from The Mayor of Southwark
• The unveiling of a brand new 700 square metre portable race track
• Music from local musicians
• Southwark Community Games athletes representing each community council area and   local sporting heroes
• Screening of the official ceremony in Beijing, through two big screens in place on   Camberwell Green.

Prize giveaways, including £500 worth of sport vouchers to be won on the day.

 Framework for a Fairer Future – the Equality Bill

On Thursday 26th June 2008 I announced details of the Equality Bill. Details of the Bill can be seen in "Framework for a Fairer Future – the Equality Bill" , and to read the statement which I gave in the House of Commons please click here. 

 Prime Minister's Questions

On 2nd April I took the Prime Minister's place at PMQs as Gordon Brown was attending the NATO summit in Bucharest.

The Zimbabwe elections, the economy and income tax were on the agenda.

I also took questions on autism, overcrowding in Scottish prisons and employment in the water bottling industry.

If you would like to watch or read the transcript you can do so by clicking here.

On 9th July 2008 I was asked to stand in because the Prime Minister was is in Japan at the G8 summit. I was asked various questions including ones on housing, the economy and the NHS. Please click here if you would like to watch.