Looking for a job? The interview question you don’t have to answer

No matter how well prepared you are, there's often one question in an interview that makes you feel uncomfortable.

In the UK, employers have the right to ask you how much you are paid in your current job, but job seekers have no obligation to tell the truth.

Recruiters have been encouraged to stop asking job candidates about their salary history, while new rules will ban them from doing so in the European Union.

But this question may still arise, so what is the best way to answer it?

What questions can the interviewer ask?

Sometimes you can feel that both the interviewer and the interviewee are cautious when talking about money.

But Louise Rudd, senior consultant at workplace advisory and mediation service Acas, told the BBC there were no rules prohibiting employers from asking interviewers about their current salary or salary expectations.

If an employer really wants to know, she explains, the same questions should be asked of every applicant to ensure they are treated fairly.

A few years ago, a movement was launched calling on employers to stop asking new employees how much they were paid in their last job.

The movement has its own hashtag - #EndSalaryHistory.

The Fawcett Society, a group dedicated to fighting for women's rights and gender equality, told the BBC that raising the issue could perpetuate unfair pay differences historically caused by gender, race and disability inequalities.

The institute said this means that employers do not base salaries on job applicants based on their skills, experience and performance, but instead compensate them based on their perceived value and negotiating ability.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has also backed the move, urging recruiters not to ask questions.

The European Union is about to introduce new rules that will ban employers from asking job applicants about their salary history.

However, the British Cabinet Office's plan does not include this aspect, but focuses on requiring employers to publish salary information in job advertisements.

What's the best answer?

When you're applying for a job, you can disclose your current salary if you wish.

Some people BBC News spoke to on the streets of London said they would inflate their salaries in order to get a higher salary at their next job.

However, the risks of lying during an interview far outweigh the possible benefits.

If you do not wish to disclose your salary, we are under no obligation to do so.

Rude said some may prefer to express their salary expectations or outline their understanding of the salary range for the position.

Recruitment firms often say that candidates should focus more on their skills and experience as a measure of their compensation, rather than their salary history.

In this regard, Shazia Ejaz, campaign director of the Federation of Recruitment and Employment, told the BBC that job seekers should be "both pragmatic and confident" when it comes to salary issues.