Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has estimated the value of wages unlawfully unpaid in the last year for which information is available by category of unlawfully unpaid wages.

This Government does not hold estimates of the total value of wages unlawfully unpaid in the last year.

Through enforcement of National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage (NMW) law over the 2017/18 financial year, HM Revenue and Customs identified over £15.6 million in wage arrears, owed to over 200,000 workers. Government has increased HMRC’s enforcement budget again to a record high of £26.3 million for 2018-19.

Any worker who feels they have been underpaid should contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). Acas provides free and impartial information and advice on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. Where appropriate, Acas will refer complaints relating to minimum wage underpayment on to HMRC for enforcement action.

The Acas website is at www.acas.org.uk and the Acas helpline number is 0300 123 1100.