Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) cases of national minimum wage compliance the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) National Minimum Wage Risk Unit has investigated, (b) notices of underpayment have been issued to employers for that non-compliance, (c) employers have been fined the maximum amount for non-compliance and (d) employers have been taken to civil court or an employment tribunal by HMRC for failing to comply with the terms of a notice of underpayment in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17.

The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) receives them. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW or NLW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reviews all complaints that are referred to the department.

In 2015/16, HMRC completed 2667 investigations, identifying 958 instances of non-compliance. In 2016/17, up to 30 September 2016, HMRC had completed 1420 investigations, identifying 521 instances of non-compliance.

HMRC do not hold data on Employment Tribunals and action taken through civil courts in a format that would enable provision of the statistics requested.