Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many civil enforcement actions HM Revenue and Customs has taken against employers over non-payment of the minimum wage in the last five years.

The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where we identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW.

The majority of employers identified as paying below the NMW will pay arrears on receipt of a formal Notice of Underpayment, i.e. civil enforcement action.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 110W, for the number of non-compliant employers for the period requested.