To ask the Minister for Communities whether all providers of contracted or grant funded services that receive funding from his Department, or through an arm’s length body or non departmental public body, are sufficiently funded to enable all employed staff to receive, as a minimum, the Living Wage.

My department’s directly contracted services have required all suppliers appointed since June 2022 to ensure that those who are delivering services to DfC are paid at least Real Living Wage to comply with Executive accreditation as a Living Wage employer and deliver on Social Values Policy.

Grant funding provides a contribution towards eligible costs, which may include salaries and running costs incurred in the delivery of a range of agreed policy outcomes.

My department is not the employer of staff in any arm’s length body or non-departmental public body it funds. Terms and conditions and pay policies are a matter for the employer.