John Lewis boss: higher minimum wage should boost productivity

Sir Charlie Mayfield says national living wage may encourage more automation, spurring economic growth

The boss of John Lewis and Waitrose has said the introduction of the "national living wage" could already be boosting productivity in Britain, despite criticism of the policy by senior retail figures.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and a government adviser on productivity, told the Guardian that the national living wage could be a "spur to productivity" because it could encourage more use of automation in workplaces. That could lead to fewer jobs in some industries, Mayfield admitted, but would also spur stronger economic growth.