What is the national minimum hourly rate?

[collision]

.....and are you entitled to any benefits or anything if you are on the minimum hourly rate?

It's £5.10 I think, collision - not sure what you mean by benefits?

Oops, no, it's less than that - £4.85 atm:

The adult rate of the minimum wage (for workers aged 22 and over) will increase from its present hourly rate of £4.85 to £5.05 in October 2005, and to £5.35 in October 2006. The 2006 increase is subject to confirmation by the Commission in February 2006, to check that the economic conditions continue to make it appropriate.

DTI

Thanks JanH......knew you would know!

Just wondered about Tax credits and child benefit etc for when we move back to the UK. (So not 'benefits' as such!)

child benfits are universal so doesn;t matter how much you are piad. Chitld tax credit kicks in if your joint wages are less than about 50,000 a year. There is also working tax credit whcih you get if you earn a lot less than that. I'll look it up as I'm bored at work

here is some info

tax

Thanks Jane! Very helpful.

going up to £5.10/hr in October, though (says she who has to do a wage review for the preschool staff as a result)

oops! I was wrong, it's going up to £5.05/hr for over 21s . Glad i checked...