Workers at Defra staged a protest outside the department’s headquarters in London on Wednesday.  

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The living wage is currently £7.85 an hour outside London and £9.15 an hour in the capital. The prime minister told parliament in January, "I am in favour of the living wage. Those organisations that can pay the living wage should pay the living wage."

Cleaners have left a series of letters for ministers and senior civil servants, outlining the hardship they suffer and asking for face to face meetings.

In November, environment Secretary Liz Truss said that Defra "was looking into the problem to understand what options exist".

The protest began in Smith Square at 4pm.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka commented on Wednesday, "It is an absolute scandal that staff who work long and unsocial hours cleaning up after ministers and senior officials are on poverty pay.

"The government should commit immediately to insisting that its private contractors all pay the living wage.”