Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses have been fined for paying below the national minimum wage in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) the UK in each of the last three years.

The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) should receive it. HMRC enforce the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) in line with the law and policy set out by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff. The consequences of not complying with payment of NMW can include fines of 200% of the arrears, public naming and, for the worst offences, criminal prosecution.

HMRC take seriously and review all complaints from workers referred by the Acas helpline, or received via the online complaints form, and investigate as appropriate. If anyone thinks they are not receiving at least the minimum wage, they can contact Acas, in confidence, on 0300 123 1100 or submit a query online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints.

The total numbers of businesses which have failed to pay the correct rates of national minimum wage and have received penalties as a result in the last three years are provided in the table below:

* Businesses with a registered address within the Leicester East postcode.