Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in response to the finding in the Institute for Public Policy Research's report, Why Interns Need a Fair Wage, published in July 2010, that the system of unpaid internships excludes young people who come from less well-off families and ensures that certain industries and professions continue to be dominated from particular backgrounds, perpetuating inequality and dampening opportunities for social mobility.

The Government believes in fair wages for fair work and opportunity for all. When an intern meets the legal definition of a worker they must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. We actively promote fair and open access to paid internships through the BIS-funded Graduate Talent Pool, and our Social Mobility Business Compact and Common Best Practice Code for High Quality Internships ask employers to ensure that any internships they offer are advertised openly and transparently and are paid fairly. We have also made it simpler to name and shame employers that do not comply with national minimum wage regulations and, in addition, complaints from interns are now fast-tracked by HMRC.