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100004

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recent proposal by the Child Poverty and Social Justice Commission that unpaid internships should be illegal.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Berridge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2219
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>This Government is absolutely clear: exploitation of interns is unacceptable and we don’t hesitate to act where we find that employment law has been broken and someone who is entitled to the minimum wage hasn’t been paid it.</p><p> </p><p>Complaints from interns about non-payment of the minimum wage are prioritised by HMRC for investigation and HMRC will investigate every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p> </p><p>Research shows that internships and work experience programmes can be valuable opportunities for young people taking their first steps in the labour market. Our work on interns and the National Minimum Wage aims to achieve the right balance between ensuring that opportunities for young people are not cut off and minimising the risk of exploitation.</p><p> </p><p>Our concern, if we were to prohibit unpaid internships, is that this may lead to employers recruiting interns through informal and privileged networks with adverse effects on social mobility or have adverse consequences on the number of available opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>There is no definition of an internship in minimum wage legislation and interns are considered in the same way as everyone else with regards to whether the minimum wage is due. The key issue is whether or not they are workers as defined by minimum wage legislation. If they are, then they are eligible for the minimum wage unless a specific exemption applies. Volunteers are not workers and are not eligible for the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 29/10/2014 16:15:22 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge

1090922

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his Department's policy to include an assessment of the effect of unpaid work trials on levels of employment as part of the review of the international evidence on the impacts of minimum wages published on 13 March.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	233568
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>The National Living Wage (NLW) has helped to deliver the fastest wage growth for the lowest paid in 20 years, and in April 2019, alongside the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates, will increase above inflation and average earnings. Collectively, over 2.1 million workers will benefit from the minimum wage rates. In Glasgow South, there are an estimated 1,600 workers currently benefiting from the minimum wages.</p><p>At Spring Statement 2019, the Government announced an important step in its aspiration to end low pay, by appointing Professor Arindrajit Dube to undertake a review of the latest international evidence on minimum wages. The review will be considering the implications of this international evidence for UK minimum wage policy.</p><p>The Government is clear that National Minimum Wage legislation already protects workers by proscribing unpaid work trials that are excessive and not part of a genuine recruitment process. The Government published new guidance in December 2018 that clarifies the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 233606 question first answered 21/03/2019 17:27:28 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1090984

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the review of the international evidence on the impacts of minimum wages, published on 13 March 2019, if he will make it his Department's policy to ban unpaid work trials at the outset of employment.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	233606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>The National Living Wage (NLW) has helped to deliver the fastest wage growth for the lowest paid in 20 years, and in April 2019, alongside the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates, will increase above inflation and average earnings. Collectively, over 2.1 million workers will benefit from the minimum wage rates. In Glasgow South, there are an estimated 1,600 workers currently benefiting from the minimum wages.</p><p>At Spring Statement 2019, the Government announced an important step in its aspiration to end low pay, by appointing Professor Arindrajit Dube to undertake a review of the latest international evidence on minimum wages. The review will be considering the implications of this international evidence for UK minimum wage policy.</p><p>The Government is clear that National Minimum Wage legislation already protects workers by proscribing unpaid work trials that are excessive and not part of a genuine recruitment process. The Government published new guidance in December 2018 that clarifies the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 233568 question first answered 21/03/2019 17:27:27 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1127650

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that interns are paid at least (a) the national minimum wage and (b) the national living wage.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	256245
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The law is clear that any individual performing work is entitled to receive the National Minimum and National Living Wage (NMW). The Government is committed to enforcing this right. In 2018/19 HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) identified a record £24.4 million in arrears for over 220,000 workers and issued over £17 million in penalties to non-compliant employers. The budget to enforce the NMW stands at its highest ever.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC have contacted over 2,000 employers found to be advertising unpaid internships online to ensure they are compliant with the law. They have also issued over 15,000 letters to employers in industries where internships are common to remind them of their responsibilities.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this month my hon Friend the Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) (Digital Policy) (Margot James) and I co-hosted a roundtable on internships with employers and organisations in the creative industries. Discussion focused on how Government can work better with employers to raise the profile of existing rules and ensure that interns are paid in accordance with NMW law. The event provided important insight which will be used to improve compliance with the law across all sectors.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone who feels they are being underpaid the NMW should contact Acas for free impartial advice or make a complaint directly to HMRC through their online form. HMRC follow up on every worker complaint received, even those which are anonymous.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 23/05/2019 13:54:49 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1145813

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will make it her Department's policy to centrally record the number of workers underpaid through work trials.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	290796
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all employers pay their workers correctly. We have increased the annual budget for National Minimum Wage (NMW) compliance and enforcement to £27.4m; more than doubling the level of resources since 2015/16.</p><p>HMRC NMW enforcement data records the reasons for employers’ failure to pay the correct minimum wage; this includes the broader category of <em>unpaid working time</em>. No estimate has been made of the number of people who have undertaken unpaid work trials in 2018-19.</p><p>“Calculating the Minimum Wage” guidance is kept under review and updates are published as required to ensure that employers are aware of their obligations and are able to comply with minimum wage legislation. Guidance relating to work trials was most recently updated in December.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 290799 290811 question first answered 04/10/2019 11:33:47 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1145816

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have undertaken unpaid work trials in 2018-19.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	290799
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all employers pay their workers correctly. We have increased the annual budget for National Minimum Wage (NMW) compliance and enforcement to £27.4m; more than doubling the level of resources since 2015/16.</p><p>HMRC NMW enforcement data records the reasons for employers’ failure to pay the correct minimum wage; this includes the broader category of <em>unpaid working time</em>. No estimate has been made of the number of people who have undertaken unpaid work trials in 2018-19.</p><p>“Calculating the Minimum Wage” guidance is kept under review and updates are published as required to ensure that employers are aware of their obligations and are able to comply with minimum wage legislation. Guidance relating to work trials was most recently updated in December.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 290796 290811 question first answered 04/10/2019 11:33:47 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1145830

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government guidance, Calculating the Minimum Wage, if she will make it her Department's policy to review and update the guidance on unpaid work trials.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	290811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all employers pay their workers correctly. We have increased the annual budget for National Minimum Wage (NMW) compliance and enforcement to £27.4m; more than doubling the level of resources since 2015/16.</p><p>HMRC NMW enforcement data records the reasons for employers’ failure to pay the correct minimum wage; this includes the broader category of <em>unpaid working time</em>. No estimate has been made of the number of people who have undertaken unpaid work trials in 2018-19.</p><p>“Calculating the Minimum Wage” guidance is kept under review and updates are published as required to ensure that employers are aware of their obligations and are able to comply with minimum wage legislation. Guidance relating to work trials was most recently updated in December.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 290796 290799 question first answered 04/10/2019 11:33:47 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1166705

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints HMRC has received on employers advertising unpaid work trials in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	6442
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it.</p><p>All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff.</p><p>HMRC do not record numbers of complaints relating specifically to unpaid work trials.</p><p>HMRC take seriously and review all complaints from workers; and if anyone thinks they are not receiving at least the minimum wage, they can contact Acas, in confidence, on 0300 123 1100 or submit a query online using the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 31/10/2019 13:42:59 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1168739

	registered interest
	date	20/12/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will make it her Department's policy to ban the use of unpaid work trials at the outset of employment in UK businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	322
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>Unpaid work trials that are excessive and not part of a genuine recruitment process are prohibited by National Minimum Wage legislation. It is simply wrong to exploit workers by setting up excessive unpaid trials.  The law is clear that if someone is “working” for minimum wage purposes, they must be paid at least the National Minimum or National Living Wage.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all employers pay their workers correctly. HMRC consider all worker complaints and will take enforcement action in any cases of abuse.</p><p> </p><p>BEIS published guidance in December 2018 clarifying that unpaid work trials are not permissible if they are excessive or not part of a genuine recruitment process. They can, however, play an important role in helping people into work opportunities, if used correctly.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/01/2020 15:53:08 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1171097

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Unpaid Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy for HMRC to record the number of complaints it receives on unpaid work trials.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
	tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	3809
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2020 answer text <p>HMRC take seriously and investigate all complaints from workers referred by the Acas helpline, or received via the online complaints form.</p><p> </p><p>Complaint-led National Minimum Wage (NMW) cases often involve a range of different NMW breaches. It is only possible to determine the full extent of any underpayments, and the underlying reasons for these breaches, at the conclusion of an investigation.</p><p> </p><p>In conjunction with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, HMRC publish information on completed investigations in an annual compliance and enforcement report. The latest report can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-living-wage-and-national-minimum-wage-government-evidence-on-compliance-and-enforcement-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-living-wage-and-national-minimum-wage-government-evidence-on-compliance-and-enforcement-2018</a></p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 20/01/2020 16:05:21 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald