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65379

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many decisions based on work capability assessments were overturned during the completion of the mandatory reconsideration period in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2012-13.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203624
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p /> <p>The Department is collecting information to understand how the introduction of mandatory reconsideration (MR) is operating.</p><p> </p><p>However, this data is not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available at this time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 07/07/2014 14:22:31 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

65406

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the sum was of unpaid wages involved in each of the cases where employers have been prosecuted for non-payment of the minimum wage since 1999.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203781
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where we identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW.</p><p> </p><p>With the agreement of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, HMRC started prosecution for minimum wage offences from August 2007.</p><p> </p><p>The total sum of arrears involved in cases where employers have been prosecuted is £20,034.</p><p> </p><p>Criminal investigations do not guarantee arrears being paid to workers and are reserved only for the most serious cases. The Government is cracking down on employers who break the law and have increased the financial penalty percentage that employers pay for breaking minimum wage law from 50 per cent to 100 per cent and the maximum penalty has increased from £5,000 to £20,000. The revised penalty is calculated as 100 per cent of the total underpayment for all of the workers specified in a Notice of Underpayment relating to pay reference periods that commence on or after 7 March 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 12/09/2014 09:51:38 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

65407

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many civil enforcement actions HM Revenue and Customs has taken against employers over non-payment of the minimum wage in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203782
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where we identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of employers identified as paying below the NMW will pay arrears on receipt of a formal Notice of Underpayment, i.e. civil enforcement action.</p><p> </p><p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 110W, for the number of non-compliant employers for the period requested.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 08/07/2014 14:39:50 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

65408

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria HM Revenue and Customs use to determine whether a case where an employer is paying one or more employees less than the minimum wage is pursued by the civil route or the criminal route.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203783
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) is responsible for National Minimum Wage (NMW) policy, including the policy on compliance and enforcement. HM Revenue and Customs enforces the NMW Act on behalf of BIS.</p><p> </p><p>BIS have set out how the Government operates the civil and criminal enforcement of the NMW in a policy document headed ‘Policy on HM Revenue and Customs enforcement, prosecutions and naming employers who break national minimum wage law (March 2014)'. This document is available on-line at www.gov.uk/government/publications/enforcing-national-minimum-wage-law</p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 08/07/2014 14:49:05 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

65409

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the 10 largest amounts of unpaid arrears were that were imposed in the last five years against employers who paid one or more employees less than the minimum wage; and whether any of those employers were prosecuted.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where they identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW.</p><p> </p><p>The following table shows the 10 largest amounts of arrears identified. The majority of employers identified as paying below the NMW will pay arrears on receipt of a formal Notice of Underpayment, i.e. civil enforcement action. The 1998 Act makes provision for criminal proceedings to be brought for offences under section 31 of that Act, and those offences cover a range of possible non-compliant behaviours. Criminal proceedings were not commenced in the 10 cases listed.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Large arrears identified between 2009 to present</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£724,445</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£690,980</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£653,491</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£400,761</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£297,361</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£211,065</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£203,769</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£193,436</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£187,573</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£168,592</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>For the cases above that occurred after April 2009, the maximum penalty was charged.</p><p> </p><p>This Government has increased the financial penalty percentage that employers pay for breaking minimum wage law from 50% to 100% and the maximum penalty has increased from £5,000 to £20,000. The revised penalty is calculated as 100% of the total underpayment for all of the workers specified in a Notice of Underpayment relating to pay reference periods that commence on or after 7 March 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 23/07/2014 15:01:33 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

65103

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Wonga
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what consideration the Serious Fraud Office has given to investigating Wonga, for fraud by false representation under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203476
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>The Serious Fraud Office is aware that City of London Police are reviewing whether a criminal investigation is now appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Beaconsfield answering member printed Mr Dominic Grieve question first answered 07/07/2014 15:36:56 answering member 16 label Biography information for Mr Dominic Grieve
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

65104

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Wonga
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether the Crown Prosecution Service has been contacted for investigative advice by any police force in England and Wales with regard to the possible criminal liability following the findings by the Financial Conduct Authority that Wonga has been threatening debtors with letters from fake law firms.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203477
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has not yet been approached for investigative advice, by any police force, in respect of possible criminal matters arising from the Financial Conduct Authority investigation of Wonga.</p><p>Following the announcement that Wonga would pay £2.6 million in compensation, after sending letters from non-existent law firms to customers in arrears, the CPS Deputy Head of the Specialist Fraud Division contacted the City of London Police, on the 26 June 2014, to enquire whether this matter was being criminally investigated.</p><p>City of London Police are the national police lead for serious fraud investigations. They are currently assessing whether the case merits a criminal investigation and have confirmed that they will refer any request for advice to the CPS Specialist Fraud Division.</p> answering member constituency Beaconsfield answering member printed Mr Dominic Grieve question first answered 07/07/2014 15:39:04 answering member 16 label Biography information for Mr Dominic Grieve
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

65105

registered interest
date	01/07/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Wonga
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what discussions have taken place between the Financial Conduct Authority and the Serious Fraud Office on the recent finding by that regulator that Wonga sent letters to debtors from non-existent solicitors demanding payment.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203475
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p>The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has no records of any discussion with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in regard to this matter.</p><p>Press statements have been issued by both the FCA and the City of London Police concerning Wonga and their agreement to pay compensation.</p><p>If the SFO is approached by any law enforcement or regulatory bodies then any relevant matters will be considered for criminal investigation in line with the SFO's remit to investigate fraud, bribery and corruption.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Beaconsfield answering member printed Mr Dominic Grieve question first answered 07/07/2014 15:41:32 answering member 16 label Biography information for Mr Dominic Grieve
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

63459

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Serious Fraud Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many (a) investigations were carried out, (b) individuals were charged, (c) corporates were charged, (d) criminal prosecutions were launched and (e) criminal convictions were secured by the Serious Fraud Office in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) each of the five preceding years.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	201977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>11 convictions were secured in 2013/14 and 16 prosecutions were completed in 2013/14 (including those with convictions).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigates and, where appropriate, prosecutes cases of serious or complex fraud (including cases of domestic or overseas bribery and corruption) which, in the opinion of the Director of the SFO, call for the multi-disciplinary approach and legislative powers available to the SFO. Since April 2012, the SFO’s caseload has been recalibrated so that it is taking on fewer and more complex cases, as envisaged by the Roskill model.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The SFO’s Intelligence Unit will assess all matters referred to the SFO whether by the public, the police or other agencies or organisations and refer those considered suitable for acceptance to a Case Evaluation Board before submission to the Director for his decision to open a criminal investigation under the Criminal Justice Act 1987.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>SFO investigations are complex, and this can sometimes lead to investigations merging or splitting into different parts. For instance, the Libor investigation is into numerous financial institutions, and there are other large investigations which have been subdivided.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The information requested for earlier years is contained in the following table.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2009/10</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2008/09</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2007/08</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of investigations opened</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of individuals charged</p></td><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>57</p></td><td><p>31</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of corporates charged</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of convictions secured</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>33</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of prosecutions completed by defendant (including those convicted)</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>54</p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p>54</p></td><td><p>25</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Note 1: Two cases have been opened, closed, and then re-opened. These have been counted only once in the data above.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Note 2: Prior to April 2012 the SFO did not collate all of its casework data centrally and it is therefore possible that some records form this period may not have been identified. The SFO is currently carrying out a project to ensure that its reporting systems are more robust in the future.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Mr Robert Buckland grouped question UIN 205065 205092 question first answered 01/09/2014 14:33:31 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

63460

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Serious Fraud Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many directors of companies were disqualified as a result of a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office in (a) 2012-13 and (b) each of the five preceding years.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	201978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p>The number of directors of companies disqualified on conviction following prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office were as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>2008/09</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>22</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Data prior to 2008 is not collated centrally and it is not possible to provide the information requested without incurring a disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North East Hertfordshire answering member printed Oliver Heald question first answered 01/07/2014 11:36:24 answering member 69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry