The Government has not undertaken a formal assessment of the merits of pro-active investigations but believes they are an important part of enforcement.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
HMRC published findings from their targeted social care evaluation on 25 November 2013. Over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013, HMRC had made enquiries into 224 employers in the social care sector. Of the cases completed by the end of September 2014, HMRC have found non-compliance in 108 (48%) of their enquiries, identifying £1,319,729 arrears of pay for 6,550 workers, with penalties issued with a total value of £146,931.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
As part of this targeted enforcement activity, HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies to improve understanding of compliance risks and design controls within payroll systems that prevent workers being underpaid the minimum wage.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department of Health has recently published statutory guidance for local authorities as part of the package of secondary legislation that accompanies the Care Act. The chapter of statutory guidance on commissioning and market shaping 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. A copy of the guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-statutory-guidance-for-implementation<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Department of Health is asking all Local Authorities to sign up to the Social Care Commitment which incorporates a statement about employer compliance with minimum wage legislation. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has written out to all its members encouraging them to support the Commitment as a way of raising standards in adult social care.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> We regularly update our Guidance on Gov.UK and we will continue to work with the sector to improve understanding and compliance.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the Pay & Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HM Revenue & Customs investigate all complaints.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"}
}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of HM Revenue and Customs launching pro-active investigations into 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"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100846", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100846/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The payback period in relation to the one-off payment to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills staff who opted to forego their entitlement to annual increment payment was estimated to be 6 years. This is based upon an assumption of 1% paybill increases year on year until 2020.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"}
}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the payback period is in relation to the one-off payment to staff in his Department who have opted to forego their entitlement to annual increment payments.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3910", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guto Bebb"}
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, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham"}
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, {"_value" : "211881"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has received representations on a public sector provider of identity assurance during the Gov.uk Verify programme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100849", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100849/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Lord Wei was appointed to advise the Government on aspects of the Big Society. He held a Cabinet Office pass and had three officials assigned to work with him.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Francis Maude"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "211877"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-29T16:59:22.7350838Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Lord Wei was an adviser to his Department; and whether he held a pass that allowed him to access the Cabinet Office.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4082", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lisa Nandy"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lisa Nandy"}
], "uin" : "211880"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100850", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100850/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Information on Verify is published at:<\/p>
GOV.UK Verify provides the first opportunity for people to verify their identity entirely digitally.
The service has not yet been launched and is still in public beta. Performance data will be published in due course.<\/p>