A NEW report has boosted East Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice's campaign to persuade the Government to change its mind and uprate the minimum wage in April.

The Labour back-bencher has already written to the Prime Minister on the issue and tackled Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers about it in the Commons.

Yesterday, he welcomed the survey by analysts Incomes Data Services, which said that fears that the minimum wage would cost jobs, disrupt pay structures and hit differentials had proved 'groundless.'

It reported little difficulty for firms complying with regulations and said that most major organisations paid the full adult rate of £3.60 an hour to 18-21 year-olds, even through the statutory level for them was just £3 an hour.

Pendle MP Mr Prentice said: "I am still waiting for a reply from the Prime Minister.

"The IDS survey is further evidence that the minimum wage should be uprated.

"All of my colleagues at Westminster I have spoken to on the issue believe it should go up.

"The rate was actually set in July 1998, even though it did not come in until April 1999.

"Even the CBI says it would not oppose an increase."

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