The government has announced that the national minimum wage for adults will increase by 15p from October 2011 to £6.08 an hour. The 2.5% increase was recommended by the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC). The rate for apprentices will rise by 10p, for 16-17 year-olds by 4p and for 18-20 year-olds by 6p. Business Secretary Vince Cable said the changes would help more than 890,000 of Britain’s lowest paid workers, and would be a welcome boost particularly in areas blighted