Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken since 2015 to increase compliance with minimum wage regulations by employers.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enforce the National Minimum Wage (NMW) on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We are clear that anyone entitled to be paid the minimum wage should receive it.

The enforcement budget has been increased to £25.3m for 2017/18 up from £13 million in 2015/2016. We have also doubled the fines for firms who break the rules from 100% to 200% of the arrears owed to the worker, up to a maximum of £20,000 per worker.

In addition to proactive targeted enforcement activity and a £1.75 million communications campaign last year to raise employer awareness, HMRC follows up on every complaint it receives; including those made to the ACAS helpline and via the online complaint form.