{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-AnswerDate=2014-10-28&version=1&hansardHeading=Home+Care+Services%3A+Pay", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?max-AnswerDate=2014-10-28&version=1&hansardHeading=Home+Care+Services%3A+Pay", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-AnswerDate=2014-10-28&_metadata=all&version=1&hansardHeading=Home+Care+Services%3A+Pay", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&max-AnswerDate=2014-10-28&version=1&hansardHeading=Home+Care+Services%3A+Pay", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-AnswerDate=2014-10-28&version=1&hansardHeading=Home+Care+Services%3A+Pay", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-AnswerDate=2014-10-28&version=1&hansardHeading=Home+Care+Services%3A+Pay", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100853", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100853/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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. HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, by collating and analysing data received from various sources, HMRC ensure targeted enforcement through robust risk assessment processes to identify employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying National Minimum Wage.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
As part of the targeted enforcement activity undertaken, HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies, such as the UK Home Care Association, and payroll software service providers to improve understanding and awareness of National Minimum Wage compliance issues and assist in the development of compliance toolkits to enable those organisations to promote and facilitate voluntary compliance.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "211864"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-03T15:30:25.0066879Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Home Care Services: Pay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits and disbenefits of HM Revenue and Customs launching pro-active investigations into the home care sector and the non-payment of the national minimum wage.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4122", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stockton North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "211863"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100318", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100318/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
HMRC does not keep data in a format to enable provision of the statistics requested on the amount of arrears paid or not paid to workers. HMRC contacts every employer whom they find has paid workers below the National Minimum Wage to confirm that they have paid the identified arrears to the workers. In addition, where it has found arrears for five or fewer workers it will contact all the workers to confirm payment by the employer. In cases involving arrears for more than five workers it will contact a minimum sample of five workers to confirm payment by the employer. HMRC will pursue non-payment of arrears through civil recovery action.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and will always investigate any case of possible National Minimum Wage abuse. Therefore there will always be variation in the number of cases investigated within specific sectors.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "211547"} , {"_value" : "211605"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-03T15:22:54.2912799Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Home Care Services: Pay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2014 to question 209191, how many investigations by HM Revenue and Customs into the home care sector were conducted in the first six months of 2014-15.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4122", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stockton North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "211653"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93234", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93234/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department is clear that social care employers should pay homecare workers for their travel time between clients, in order for them to comply with National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Care providers must abide by the law with regards to payment of the NMW and we are taking steps to ensure this happens. The Department is liaising with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to name and shame any social care providers who do not comply with the NMW legislation and HM Revenue and Customs is continuing to carry out enforcement action in the social care sector and will investigate all complaints made by care workers that their employer is not paying them the NMW. In addition, the Department is looking to ensure that the statutory guidance that will accompany the Care Act on commissioning and market shaping explicitly states local authorities should have evidence that contract terms, conditions and fee levels are appropriate to provide the agreed care packages with agreed quality of care.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1439", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Lamb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Lamb"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-17T11:59:24.8452176Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Home Care Services: Pay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that homecare workers are paid for time spent travelling between clients; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/432", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warrington North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Jones"} ], "uin" : "210315"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91998", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/91998/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department is clear that care providers must abide by the law with regards to payment of the national minimum wage and will continue to take steps to ensure this happens.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Departmental officials are liaising with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the issue of social care providers who do not comply with the national minimum wage, and with HMRC on their ongoing enforcement investigations. Under new arrangements that came into force in October 2013, employers found not to be paying the national minimum wage, including care providers, will be publically named.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department is also developing a range of work to ensure providers are aware of their responsibilities, and have the practical tools, to ensure they are paying at least the national minimum wage.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Local Authorities\u2019 commissioning can also play an important role in ensuring that care workers receive the national minimum wage to which they are entitled. The Department has recently consulted on statutory guidance for local authorities as part of the package of secondary legislation to accompany the Care Act, including guidance on commissioning and market shaping. The draft guidance explicitly states that local authorities should have evidence that contract terms, conditions and fee levels will not compromise care providers\u2019 ability to pay at least minimum wages. Responses to the consultation are currently being analysed and the final guidance will be published in October. The Department is also working with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association and the Health Services Management Centre at Birmingham University to develop a set of Commissioning Standards. Local authorities will be encouraged to use these as a benchmark to support them to improve commissioning practices, including those which have an impact on the social care workforce such as employer compliance with national minimum wage.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department has recently provided a contribution to the Interim Evidence to the Low Pay Commission.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Ministers have not had recent direct discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on homecare workers receiving less than the minimum wage.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1439", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Lamb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Lamb"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-15T15:12:54.5248462Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Home Care Services: Pay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer on homecare workers receiving less than the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/432", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warrington North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Jones"} ], "uin" : "209597"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/92146", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/92146/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, by collating and analysing data received from various sources, HMRC ensure targeted enforcement to identify employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying NMW.<\/p>
<\/p>
No estimates have been made. However, HMRC recognises the potential issues within the social care sector and have undertaken extensive compliance activity in this area. An evaluation of National Minimum Wage enforcement in the social care sector over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013 is available at:<\/p>
<\/p>