National Living Wage to rise by more than a pound an hour to £11.44 from April in the largest increase to pay in more than a decade

The National Living Wage will increase by more than a pound an hour from April, the Treasury announced today.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that the pay threshold will rise from £10.42 per hour to £11.44, the largest increase in more than a decade.

It will also be extended to 21-year-olds for the first time, meaning overall a pay rise of £1,800 a year for a full-time worker.

Mr Hunt said: 'Next April all full-time workers on the National Living Wage will get a pay rise of over £1,800-a-year. That will end low pay in this country, delivering on our manifesto promise.

'The National Living Wage has helped halve the number of people on low pay since 2010, making sure work always pays.'