HC Deb 22 November 2000 vol 357 c197W
Mr. Jim Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK have been prosecuted for violating the National Minimum Wage legislation. [139425]

Mr. Alan Johnson

There have been no criminal prosecutions. The National Minimum Wage Act provides both civil and criminal powers of enforcement. The Inland Revenue has issuedEnforcement notices: (a) 25 in Scotland and (b) 278 in the United Kingdom. Penalty notices: (a) five in Scotland and (b) 38 in the United Kingdom. The Inland Revenue has taken (a) one Scottish and (b) 23 United Kingdom companies to employment tribunals to recover arrears of pay.

The Government cannot disclose the names of employers against whom civil actions have been taken.

Mr. Jim Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those companies in Scotland which have been investigated for failure to pay the National Minimum Wage. [139427]

Mr. Alan Johnson

No. This information is confidential and cannot therefore be disclosed.

Mr. Jim Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individual complaints have been received in Scotland from employees who have not received their legal entitlement to the National Minimum Wage. [139428]

Mr. Alan Johnson

Since April 1999, 366 formal complaints have been made to the Inland Revenue from workers in Scotland who have not been paid the National Minimum Wage.