Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in each year since 2010, how many complaints were referred to HMRC from (1) ACAS, (2) Citizens Advice, and (3) individuals, relating to workers being unpaid or paid less than the National Minimum Wage for internship roles; how many of those complaints were investigated by HMRC; and how many resulted in a prosecution against an employer.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) only holds data on referrals that resulted in an investigation being opened.

HMRC began receiving complaint referrals from Acas on 17 March 2015. From this date until 31 March 2016 HMRC opened 6 investigations relating to interns that were referred by Acas.

HMRC began receiving complaint referrals from Citizens Advice from September 2016. HMRC has recorded no investigations opened after referral from Citizens Advice that specifically relate to interns.

The following numbers of investigations were opened as a result of direct complaints in relation to interns from 1 April 2010 to 17 March 2015:

HMRC has recorded no prosecutions in relation to interns and the National Minimum Wage.