The Unpaid Work Experience (Prohibition) Bill was introduced by Lord Holmes of Richmond on 27 June.

Lord Holmes told CCH Daily: 'The reason for introducing the Bill is to enable all the talent, regardless of background, to have the potential to be empowered.

'My original starting point was zero weeks but having consulted widely there was a feeling that in terms of getting the Bill through in the most efficient manner, four weeks was a reasonable compromise.

'My personal position is that if somebody is doing any work then they should be paid for it. The feeling was that if I went for zero weeks or two weeks it would potentially cause others to delay the Bill and seek to amend the time period.'

The Bill will amend the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to introduce regulations ensuring that ‘a person undertaking such work experience who has ceased to be of compulsory school age, but has not attained to age of 26, is eligible to receive the national minimum wage at the rate specified for workers of the person’s age.’

Holmes said: 'My hope is that is gathers support from around the House from all parties and that it is seen as a good thing for the government to get behind and support. I want it to get onto the statute book and end the practice once and for all.'

When the Bill is passed the Act will extend to the whole of the UK and will come into force on the day which it is passed.

The Lord Holmes of Richmond MBE, Christopher Holmes, joined the House of Lords on 13 September 2013 and is a member of the Conservative party. Holmes is a former British swimmer and has won a total of nine gold, five silver, and one bronze medal at the Paralympic Games. He has represented Great Britian at four Paralympic Games between 1988 and 2000 and is the only Paralympic swimmer to win six gold medals at a single games.

Unpaid Work Experience (Prohibition) Bill is here.