Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether people that are shielding are entitled to be furloughed by employers after 16 April 202 under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme instead of automatic entitlement to Statutory Sick Pay.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Employees who are shielding in line with public health guidance (or need to stay home with someone who is shielding) can be placed on furlough. Use of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is at the discretion of the employer. Individuals who are shielding should speak to their employer about whether they plan to place staff on furlough. If a firm chooses not to furlough these staff, they are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay as a statutory minimum, although many employers will pay more than that in occupational sick pay.
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Bounce Back Loan scheme will be made available to businesses that bank with Cash Plus and other online lenders and that cannot open new business accounts with high street lenders that have stopped accepting new customers.
Answered by John Glen
The new Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBLS), launched 4 May, will ensure that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans in a matter of just days.
There are over 16 lenders that are offering loans under the scheme which can be found here: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/bounce-back-loans/current-accredited-lenders-and-partners/
Any lender that wishes to become accredited to offer Bounce Back Loans should contact the British Business Bank.
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to inform businesses of the rules on employing contractors after 6 April 2020.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government is committed to working with organisations to ensure changes to the off-payroll working rules are implemented correctly. HMRC are undertaking an extensive programme of education and support to help organisations prepare for the reform. This includes:
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2018 to Question 187012, how many civil sanctions have been applied to employers for failing to pay the national minimum wage (a) in total and (b) in relation to internship roles in each year since 1 January 2017.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The government is determined to ensure that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have not been paid the NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or via the online complaints form at gov.uk. HMRC reviews all complaints that are referred to them.
All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff. HMRC won’t hesitate to take action to ensure that workers receive what they are legally entitled to.
Most NMW cases are subject to civil (non-criminal) sanctions, the consequences of which include fines of up to 200% of the determined underpayment, and public naming.
In 2016/17, HMRC issued around £4 million in penalties to 821 employers for underpaying NMW to workers, and in 2017/18 issued over £14 million in penalties to 810 employers.
It is not possible to identify all NMW breaches involving the employment of interns, as HMRC does not routinely record the employment characteristics of individual workers who are owed and paid arrears. In most cases, interns would be repaid alongside all other workers and the data recorded as a single entry against the company.
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many successful prosecutions have been made against employers for failing to pay that national minimum wage for intern roles since November 2017; and which employees were subject to such successful prosecutions.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The government is determined to ensure that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have not been paid the NMW should contact Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or via the online complaints form at gov.uk. HMRC reviews all complaints that are referred to them.
Most NMW cases are subject to civil (non-criminal) sanctions, the consequences of which include fines of up to 200% of the determined underpayment, and public naming.
Prosecution is reserved for the most serious non-compliance, and since 2007 HMRC investigations have led to the successful prosecution of 14 UK employers for NMW related offences. There have been no prosecutions relating to interns.