*S5M-01663 Ruth Maguire: Celebrating Living Wage Week 2016 That the Parliament — recognises that 31 October to 5 November 2016 marks the UK-wide Living Wage Week; understands that this is an annual event to celebrate the living wage and living wage employers and to raise awareness of the living wage and the Living Wage Employer Mark; acknowledges what it sees as the social benefits of implementing the living wage, affording people the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families and reducing in-work poverty, as well as the business benefits, enhancing quality of work and staff retention and reducing absenteeism; notes that the Living Wage Employer Mark and Service Provider Recognition scheme provide an ethical badge for responsible pay; congratulates those who are already living wage accredited, and notes the encouragement being given to others to join the scheme.