Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints were received by HM Revenue and Customs regarding non-payment of the national minimum wage by domiciliary care providers in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.

The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage very seriously. Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should make a complaint to the Pay & Work Rights Helpline (PWRH) on 0800 917 2368.

HMRC review every complaint referred to them by the PWRH and, in addition, collate and analyse data from various sources to identify employers more likely not to be paying National Minimum Wage and undertake targeted enforcement against those employers.

However, some complaints may not lead to the commencement of an investigation. This might be due to incomplete information being provided, or the worker subsequently wishing to withdraw their complaint. Similarly, multiple complaints about the same employer would only be recorded under one investigation. Therefore HMRC do not record statistics by complaints received, but by investigations completed.

I therefore refer my honourable friend to the answer provided to him on 17 October 2014; UIN 209191.