National Minimum Wage: Sports Direct Debate

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Department: Department for Education

National Minimum Wage: Sports Direct

Stella Creasy Excerpts
Monday 14th December 2015

(8 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Boles Portrait Nick Boles
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I have made it clear that if any individual complaint is to be assessed for its validity, HMRC needs to be able to follow it up. I have also made it clear that in sectors of concern, HMRC undertakes targeted enforcement activity that does not wait for a complaint. It will be listening to this debate.

Stella Creasy Portrait Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op)
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The Minister said that it is ultimately a growing, dynamic economy that should give people confidence about being able to find well paid jobs, but good employment practices and legislation also give them confidence. One issue that is greatly worrying a number of residents in my constituency is the use of tips and service charges to top up wages and the murky world of requirements used by employers such as Turtle Bay, a local restaurant. Will the Minister meet me and some of the campaigners from the GMB union to look into these practices further? I know he has recently conducted an investigation, but it would be incredibly beneficial to those on low wages in my local community to look at how these practices are used to top up wages or otherwise, especially ahead of the new higher minimum wage that he has talked about.

Nick Boles Portrait Nick Boles
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In my experience the hon. Lady is often on to things before the rest of us, so I would be delighted to meet her.