Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many social care providers HMRC has written to in respect of such providers about allegedly underpaying minimum wage rates for sleep-in shifts; and how many of those providers have since opted into the Social Care Compliance Scheme.

The government are determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and National Living Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) review all complaints that are referred to them.

The Social Care Compliance Scheme (SCCS) was introduced on 1 November 2017 to provide an interim enforcement approach to the social care sector. From this date up until the 18 February 2018;

· HMRC has contacted 587 social care employers inviting them to apply to join the SCCS. Of these, 424 have applied to join the SCCS, and a further 124 providers have applied to join without prior HMRC contact, making a total of 548 social care employers who have applied to join SCCS.

· No arrears have been identified through SCCS to date: social care employers who join SCCS have until 31 December 2018 to declare arrears which will then be subject to assurance checks. As such the total arrears identified will not be available until after this date.