Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2014, Official Report, column 246W, in which months the investigations by HM Revenue and Customs commenced against each of the 25 firms named and shamed for breach of the National Minimum Wage by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 8 June 2014.

The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, HMRC undertake targeted enforcement on employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying NMW.

The Government has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50% to 100% of the unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods on or after 7 March 2014. The Government will also bring in primary legislation as soon as possible so that the maximum £20,000 penalty can apply to each underpaid worker.

HMRC do not keep data on Notices of Underpayments in a format to enable provision of the statistics requested.

Of the 25 firms named by Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on 8 June 2014, 10 investigations commenced in October 2013; 10 in November 2013 and 5 in December 2013.

Of the 5 firms named by BIS on 28 February 2014, 4 investigations commenced in October 2013 and 1 during November 2013. The Notices of Underpayment for these 5 cases were all issued in December 2013.