To ask Her Majesty's Government whether certain employers have deducted income tax and national insurance from migrant and agency workers and retained the proceeds; if so, what evidence they have of such practice; and how many prosecutions there have been for such offences in recent years. [HL1679]

HM Revenue and Customs does not generally keep data relating to the income tax and national insurance contributions deducted from migrant and agency workers and retained by the employer.

HM Revenue and Customs' specialist labour provider units, which undertake compliance activity regarding gangmasters, does keep data relating to those gangmasters who have been subject to investigation. Since April 2006, the period for which data are readily available, the Labour Provider Units have concluded approximately 570 compliance settlements where there were failures to account correctly for income tax and national insurance contributions.

In the period since April 2006, two gangmasters have been prosecuted by the police with the active assistance of HM Revenue and Customs.