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Employment Bill [HL]

I wish to resist the noble Baroness’s opposition to the Question, particularly because research suggests that the current regime is far from satisfactory and that more needs to be done by way of enforcement of the minimum wage, particularly the enforcement of arrears and non-payment of arrears. The research was carried out by Geoff White of the University of Greenwich and Richard Croucher of the Cranfield School of Management. I have given the Minister notice of their work and I am sure his advisers will have knowledge of it. That survey suggests that something more needs to be invented by way of an enforcement agency. The Revenue does not have sufficient resources to follow up non-payment of the minimum wage and, in particular, non-payment of arrears. I take the opportunity to put that on record and hope that the Minister will resist the noble Baroness’s arguments.