The minimum wage goes up today from £5.52 per hour to £5.73 per hour, and for younger workers the rate goes up from £4.60 per hour to £4.77 per hour.

Almost one million people will benefit from the minimum wage rise, 100,000 of them in the West Midlands.

Pat, who is the Minister with responsibility for the Minimum Wage, said, "The Minimum Wage is one of the proudest achievements of the Labour Government.  It provides a floor of decency beneath which no worker should fall.  It has been a great success since its introduction and this latest rise will benefit around 100,000 people in the West Midlands.

"As well as increasing the Minimum Wage the Government is also toughening up the enforcement regime.  Proper enforcement is in the interests of people at work and also reputable businesses who pay the minimum wage and don't want to see themselves undercut by rogue employers who don't pay the minimum wage."