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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 24 October (HL2092), whether they will now answer the question concerning the number of criminal prosecutions that have been initiated in relation to the 700 employers "named and shamed" for failing to pay the minimum wage since October 2013; how many civil proceedings have been initiated; and what financial penalties were issued as a result of those proceedings.

The Government has named 687 employers for failing to pay at least the appropriate minimum wage rate to their workers, since the inception of our naming scheme in October 2013. Civil proceedings were initiated against all 687 of these employers, resulting in almost £1.4 million of penalties being levied. In addition, over £3.5 million of underpayments were identified, which the employers are required to repay to workers. Public naming represents the final element of the civil enforcement process. No criminal prosecutions were initiated against these employers.

The Government’s priority is to ensure low paid workers receive the money they are owed, as quickly as possible. Civil proceedings are generally the most effective means of achieving this. However, where there is evidence that an offence has been committed the case will be considered for criminal investigation, which may lead to prosecution.