LANCASHIRE is still a low pay blackspot.

And retail, hotels and catering, health and social care centres are identified as poor payers, according to a new Lancashire County Council report.

The survey, carried out by Enterprise plc, collected data from 500 companies across Lancashire -- including Preston.

It is a follow-up to 'Low Pay in Lancashire', produced by the county council and the Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit in May, 1998.

The companies chosen had been identified in previous research as low payers.

Only 20 per cent identified the new national minimum wage as having had some effect on their business. Frank McKenna, deputy leader of the county council, said: "It is clear from the results of this latest survey that we have a real problem with low pay in Lancashire.

"Low pay is a central factor in social exclusion and it is a problem we must tackle if we are to make any progress in our fight against it.

"It is particularly disturbing to find there are still a significant number of people in Lancashire earning less than the minimum wage. The Government put this in place to ensure people could earn a living wage.

"What we need to do now is identify ways of ensuring low pay is eliminated as far as possible in Lancashire."

Preston MP Audrey Wise, together with other MPs and MEPs across Lancashire will be sent copies of the report.

The county council, which is holding a seminar on low pay in the Autumn, is also hoping the Regional Development Agency will take action.

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