Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many successful prosecutions for breaches of national minimum wage legislation there have been since 2010.

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.

I refer the honourable member to the response provided by the Solicitor General on 16 October 2014 to UIN 209683