Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud has issued a "full and unreserved apology" after suggesting that some disabled people are "not worth" the minimum wage - but stopped short of resigning.
The Tory peer said he had been "foolish" in "accepting the premise" of a question posed to him during a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference last month.
Under-fire Work and Pensions minister Lord Freud retains the Prime Minister's confidence, Downing Street has said.
Asked whether David Cameron still had confidence in the minister, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: "Yes, given that he has rightly made a full and unreserved apology."
He also indicated there were no plans to ask Lord Freud to resign, saying: "The right thing now is for all government ministers to be getting on and implementing policies."
Questions to be asked over meaning behind Lord Freud's comments relating to disabled workers.
Ed Miliband has called for Tory Lord Freud to resign after he suggested some disabled workers are 'not worth' the full minimum wage