PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Minimum Wage (20 October 2014)

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the investigation by HM Revenue and Customs against the five firms named and shamed for breach of the National Minimum Wage by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 28 February 2014 began; and when such firms were issued with the relevant Notice of Underpayment by HM Revenue and Customs.

Asked by:
Sir Stephen Timms (Labour)

The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, HMRC undertake targeted enforcement on employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying NMW.

The Government has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50% to 100% of the unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods on or after 7 March 2014. The Government will also bring in primary legislation as soon as possible so that the maximum £20,000 penalty can apply to each underpaid worker.

HMRC do not keep data on Notices of Underpayments in a format to enable provision of the statistics requested.

Of the 25 firms named by Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on 8 June 2014, 10 investigations commenced in October 2013; 10 in November 2013 and 5 in December 2013.

Of the 5 firms named by BIS on 28 February 2014, 4 investigations commenced in October 2013 and 1 during November 2013. The Notices of Underpayment for these 5 cases were all issued in December 2013.

Answered by:
Mr David Gauke (Independent)
23 October 2014