Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to to tackle the problem of employees being paid below the minimum wage in Northern Ireland.
Answered by David Gauke
I refer the hon. Member to my answer provided previously to his question of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 725W
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last discussed the possible devolution of corporation tax with the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government and Northern Ireland Executive have taken forward a constructive and positive programme of work examining the potential for devolving corporation tax powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
As agreed in “Building a prosperous and united community” the Government is taking forward further work on corporation tax devolution and will make a final decision on the devolution of these powers no later than the Autumn Statement 2014.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many fines of what total value have been imposed by HM Revenue and Customs on employers in Northern Ireland in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2014 to date.
Answered by David Gauke
This question has been taken as asking about fines related to non-payment of the NMW.
The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforce the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition to carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.
Prior to 6 April 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued penalty notices to those employers who failed to comply, within 28 days, with an enforcement notice. A new enforcement regime, introduced in April 2009, saw the introduction of automatic penalties for employers who are found to have underpaid their workers.
The number and value of penalties issued to Northern Ireland employers for the calendar years 2010-14 is set out in the following table:
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
Number | 63 | 43 | 30 | 20 |
Value | £33,635 | £49,135 | £41,110 | £40,724 |
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to tackle cases of employees in Northern Ireland being paid below the minimum wage.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.
HMRC has an NMW enforcement team based in Belfast, and that team investigates all complaints received by the Pay & Work Rights Helpline relating to Northern Ireland based employers alongside employers who are based and trading in the wider UK. The NMW Belfast team works closely with other Northern Ireland enforcement agencies including the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Home Office Immigration & Enforcement and Department of Employment and Learning.