Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of employers who were found to have been paying below the national living wage but not prosecuted in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) receives it.
HMRC does not hold separate data for National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. As referenced in UIN 136268, the ‘National Living Wage’ is a rate for workers aged 25 and over which was introduced in April 2016.
HMRC always takes action to ensure workers receive what they are entitled to. In 2015/16, 958 employers were identified as paying below the NMW. In 2016/17, 1134 employers were identified as paying below the NMW, of which two were prosecuted for underpayment of NMW.
Breaches of NMW legislation are normally a civil matter, consequences for not complying with paying NMW can include fines of 200% of the arrears and public naming.
Criminal prosecution is reserved for the most serious non-compliance. The most serious NMW breaches and cases that form part of wider criminality will be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service who decide whether to prosecute.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the progress made by the banking sector in ensuring that the needs of vulnerable consumers are met.
Answered by John Glen
The Government believes it is vitally important that the banking sector meets the needs of vulnerable consumers.
The Government has given the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent conduct regulator for the financial services sector, a statutory objective to protect consumers. The FCA continually assess whether the banks they regulate are meeting the rules regarding the needs of vulnerable consumers.
UK banks’ treatment of their customers is governed by the FCA in its Principles for Businesses, as well as specific requirements in its Handbook. The FCA's Principles require firms to conduct their business with due skill, care and diligence, and to pay due regard to the interests of its customers and treat them fairly.
The nine largest personal current account providers in the UK are legally required to offer fee-free basic bank accounts to customers who do not have a bank account or who are ineligible for a bank’s standard current account. The Treasury’s December 2017 publication shows that in total there are nearly 8 million basic bank accounts open in the UK, and that just over 900,000 new accounts were opened between July 2016 and June 2017.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2017 to Question 118571, on Overseas Trade: China, whether the Government has made an alternative estimate to that provided by OLAF for alleged duty loss.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
This issue is the subject of a letter of formal notice of infraction from the Commission as the first stage in possible legal proceedings. The government is carefully examining the formal notice and will respond to the Commission in due course. The government does not recognise the Commission’s estimate of alleged duty loss.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers in Wales were prosecuted for non-payment of the national living wage in each quarter of 2017.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The government are determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) receives it.
The ‘National Living Wage’ is a rate for workers aged 25 and over which was introduced in April 2016.
Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review all complaints that are referred to them.
I refer the honourable member to the answer provided at UIN 126663 for information on prosecution results.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the state of readiness of Holyhead and Pembroke docks to enforce custom checks in the event that the UK does not agree a deal with the European Union.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Government is clear that the UK’s future customs arrangements should be as frictionless as possible, ensuring the continued free flow of trade at all UK borders, including Holyhead and Pembroke docks. The Government has engaged with a large number of businesses, ports, airports and other organisations across the UK, including from Wales, to support the smooth and orderly implementation of any new arrangements.