Tag: Ivan Lewis

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many fines of what total value have been imposed by HM Revenue and Customs on employers in Northern Ireland in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2014 to date.

Mr David Gauke

This question has been taken as asking about fines related to non-payment of the NMW.

The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforce the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition to carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

Prior to 6 April 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued penalty notices to those employers who failed to comply, within 28 days, with an enforcement notice. A new enforcement regime, introduced in April 2009, saw the introduction of automatic penalties for employers who are found to have underpaid their workers.

The number and value of penalties issued to Northern Ireland employers for the calendar years 2010-14 is set out in the following table:

	2010	2011	2012	2013
Number	63	43	30	20
Value	£33,635	£49,135	£41,110	£40,724

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to tackle cases of employees in Northern Ireland being paid below the minimum wage.

Mr David Gauke

The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.

HMRC has an NMW enforcement team based in Belfast, and that team investigates all complaints received by the Pay & Work Rights Helpline relating to Northern Ireland based employers alongside employers who are based and trading in the wider UK. The NMW Belfast team works closely with other Northern Ireland enforcement agencies including the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Home Office Immigration & Enforcement and Department of Employment and Learning.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with HM Treasury on additional financial support to implement the draft proposals put forward in the Haass agreement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

No estimate has been made of the cost. I continue to support and encourage the Northern Ireland parties as they pursue an agreement on flags, parading and the past, but as these are mainly devolved matters funding for new structures would principally come out of the Block Grant that is paid to the Northern Ireland Executive. Requests for additional funding will be considered in the context of the current UK Government deficit that we inherited from our predecessors and would require Treasury approval.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with UK Trade & Investment on ensuring that Northern Ireland is represented in planning for the UK pavilion at Milan Expo 2015.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

UKTI and Invest NI have a close working relationship and cooperate whenever possible to attract trade and investment to Northern Ireland.

I am advised that UKTI has already initiated discussions with Invest NI on Northern Ireland’s representation there.