Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many representations he has received on the exploitation of unpaid trials in the (a) service, (b) print and (c) retail sector.

Nick Boles

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, BIS Ministers and officials are in frequent contact with a wide range of stakeholders on labour market issues, including issues around internships. The Low Pay Commission also consults on a range of issues, including internships, and submits its findings to Government each year to inform its recommendations on the National Minimum Wage. We are not aware of any recent, formal representations relating only to exploitation of unpaid interns in the specified sectors.