Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2015 to Question 218249, if he will provide a breakdown of the figures in the Answer by (a) employment sector and (b) gender; and if he will make a statement.

The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage very seriously. Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should make a complaint to the Pay & Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, HMRC conducts risk-based enforcement activities in sectors or areas where there is a higher risk of workers not getting paid the legal minimum wage.

HMRC has identified arrears of National Minimum Wage for the following numbers of workers by gender in each of the past four years as detailed in the table below. Due to changes in the way HMRC record management information on trade sectors during the period requested it is not possible to provide a per worker breakdown by sector.

A number of cases arising from HMRC’s concerted work in the social care sector over recent years has helped to contribute towards an increase in arrears payments to female workers, due to the composition of the workforce in that sector