Social Services: Pay

(asked on 20th February 2015) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2015 to Question 223480, which stated that some complaints may not lead to the commencement of an investigation, for what reason the Answer of 28 November 2014 to Question 215561 stated that HM Revenue and Customs investigate all complaints.


Answered by
David Gauke Portrait
David Gauke
This question was answered on 25th March 2015

The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and 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.

UIN 220731 makes reference to 94 care sector employers who are currently being investigated. As investigations are ongoing, it is not possible to provide the information requested.

To be clear, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint referred to them but these may not lead to a formal 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. HMRC do not record statistics by complaints received, but by investigations completed.

Reticulating Splines