HC Deb 27 October 1999 vol 336 cc907-8W
Ms Kelly

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will break down the number of employers who have been reported by minimum wage inspectors for paying less than the national minimum wage by(a) region and (b) firm size. [95949]

Mr. Alan Johnson

National Minimum Wage compliance officers have dealt with over 3,000 cases of suspected underpayment of the national minimum wage. The latest available figures of complaints by region and by employer size is provided in the following tables. These data and other information on enforcement activity will be included in the Government evidence to the Low Pay Commission which we will publish shortly.

Complaints received by region. April-September 1999
Region Complaints Percentage
Scotland 204 7
N. Ireland 46 2
Wales 88 3
North East 114 4
Yorkshire 310 11
North West 211 7
Merseyside 29 1
W. Midlands 202 7
E. Midlands 183 6
Eastern England 120 4

Complaints received by region, April-September 1999
Region Complaints Percentage
London 79 3
South East 178 6
South West 162 6
Not known 922 32
Total 2,848 100

Notes:

  1. 1. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
  2. 2. The reason for the large number of complaints that appear to have no geographical region is that anonymous calls cannot be identified by Government Office regions since precise addresses are not taken: the complaints are simply dealt with by the nearest IR compliance team.

Source

Inland Revenue

Analysis of employer size for complaints cleared, April-August 1999
Number Percentage (rounded)
1 to 10 320 46
11 to 100 291 42
101+ 78 11
Total 689 100