Information since 12 Nov 2024, 11:14 p.m.
Calendar |
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Tuesday 29th April 2025 Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer) Legislation - Main Chamber Subject: Employment Rights Bill - committee stage (day 1) View calendar - Add to calendar |
Monday 31st March 2025 Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer) Oral questions - Main Chamber Subject: How the Employment Rights Bill will “support the Government’s mission to increase productivity”, as stated in their factsheet for the bill, and what evidence they have to suggest that it will increase productivity View calendar - Add to calendar |
Parliamentary Debates |
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Employment Rights Bill: Productivity
26 speeches (1,500 words) Monday 31st March 2025 - Lords Chamber Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab - Life peer) The conclusions of this research speak directly to the Employment Rights Bill. - Link to Speech |
Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill
22 speeches (3,853 words) Consideration of Lords messageConsideration of Lords Message Monday 31st March 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Mentions: 1: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) The Employment Rights Bill is coming down the line, which is of great concern to many private sector - Link to Speech 2: Vikki Slade (LD - Mid Dorset and North Poole) on the cusp, given the national insurance increases, the living wage and the impact of the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]
74 speeches (18,029 words) Report stage Monday 31st March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Education Mentions: 1: Damian Hinds (Con - East Hampshire) knew deep down that they would be doing things that were really very unpopular, such as the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee Report
35 speeches (17,046 words) Friday 28th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Mentions: 1: Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway (Lab - Life peer) Since our report was published, the Employment Rights Bill has proposed access for trade unions to the - Link to Speech 2: Baroness Goudie (Lab - Life peer) The Government’s Employment Rights Bill is a step forward, but comprehensive reform is necessary to ensure - Link to Speech 3: Lord Whitty (Lab - Life peer) I am hopeful that, under the Employment Rights Bill, which we discussed yesterday, the fair work agency - Link to Speech 4: Lord Moraes (Lab - Life peer) establishing the fair work agency, about which I will say a little more later, through the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Water Bill
194 speeches (38,576 words) 2nd reading Friday 28th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mentions: 1: Dawn Butler (Lab - Brent East) I would like to inform the House that the Employment Rights Bill outlaws exploitative zero-hours contracts - Link to Speech |
Modern Slavery Act 2015: 10th Anniversary
36 speeches (17,268 words) Thursday 27th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Home Office Mentions: 1: Karen Bradley (Con - Staffordshire Moorlands) I have concerns about the Fair Work Agency in the new Employment Rights Bill, because it takes the Gangmasters - Link to Speech 2: Chris Murray (Lab - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) First, on labour exploitation, the Employment Rights Bill—a landmark piece of legislation that I could - Link to Speech 3: Tom Hayes (Lab - Bournemouth East) stand-alone offence of child exploitation, and the creation of the Fair Work Agency through the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Business of the House
117 speeches (12,024 words) Thursday 27th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Leader of the House Mentions: 1: Jesse Norman (Con - Hereford and South Herefordshire) Meanwhile, the immensely damaging Employment Rights Bill goes entirely unscored economically by the OBR - Link to Speech 2: Lucy Powell (LAB - Manchester Central) The Employment Rights Bill, which we on the Government Benches are proud of, will give dignity and security - Link to Speech 3: Lucy Powell (LAB - Manchester Central) The Employment Rights Bill is passing through Parliament at the moment, and I will ensure that these - Link to Speech 4: Lucy Powell (LAB - Manchester Central) That is why we are strengthening measures on some these matters in the Employment Rights Bill, but I - Link to Speech |
Spring Statement
72 speeches (10,194 words) Thursday 27th March 2025 - Lords Chamber HM Treasury Mentions: 1: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer) Even today, they are proceeding with the Employment Rights Bill, which will undoubtedly have negative - Link to Speech 2: Lord Bellingham (Con - Life peer) Can he give the House the names of any SMEs that support the Employment Rights Bill? - Link to Speech 3: Lord Vaux of Harrowden (XB - Excepted Hereditary) Can he confirm that the impacts of the Employment Rights Bill, which we are soon to discuss, are also - Link to Speech 4: Lord Livermore (Lab - Life peer) The £1 billion is included in its forecast, and he is right to say that the Employment Rights Bill is - Link to Speech |
UK Newspapers and News Magazines: Foreign Investment
19 speeches (1,611 words) Thursday 27th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Mentions: 1: Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con - Life peer) Later today, we are going to discuss the Employment Rights Bill. - Link to Speech |
Employment Rights Bill
119 speeches (47,030 words) 2nd reading Thursday 27th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Baroness Coffey (Con - Life peer) their principles as well as contributing to national debate.In terms of national debate, this Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Viscount Colville of Culross (XB - Excepted Hereditary) ensure that non-compliant umbrella companies do not enter the work supply chain.This is the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Earl of Clancarty (XB - Excepted Hereditary) Therefore, a truly modern Employment Rights Bill would have properly included the rights of freelancers - Link to Speech 4: Baroness Bray of Coln (Con - Life peer) noble Baroness, Lady Berger.I am delighted to participate in this important debate on the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 5: Lord Katz (Lab - Life peer) is an equal pleasure to speak in this Second Reading debate on the Government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Spring Statement
149 speeches (20,010 words) Wednesday 26th March 2025 - Commons Chamber HM Treasury Mentions: 1: Rachel Reeves (Lab - Leeds West and Pudsey) protect us in a more uncertain world; additional support for carers, the living wage up, the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: John Glen (Con - Salisbury) ”I would like to know what the Chancellor thinks about that, and can she confirm that the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Andy McDonald (Lab - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East) She is absolutely right to highlight the stimulus that the Employment Rights Bill will bring to our economy - Link to Speech 4: Rachel Reeves (Lab - Leeds West and Pudsey) The Employment Rights Bill will ensure that people have security at work. - Link to Speech 5: Rachel Reeves (Lab - Leeds West and Pudsey) That comes alongside our Employment Rights Bill, which will ensure greater security for those who go - Link to Speech |
Fishing Quota Negotiations: Impact on UK Fleet
37 speeches (12,212 words) Wednesday 26th March 2025 - Westminster Hall Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mentions: 1: John Cooper (Con - Dumfries and Galloway) —fishing.Just as Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, with its heavy pro-union bias, takes us back to 1979 - Link to Speech |
Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill (changed to Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers) Bill)
49 speeches (6,823 words) Consideration of Lords amendments Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Mentions: 1: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) means of the rise in employers’ national insurance, and the prospect of the job-destroying Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Suella Braverman (Con - Fareham and Waterlooville) particularly because of the rise in national insurance contributions from employers, the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) already been hit by the jobs tax, and will be tied up with even more red tape through the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill
38 speeches (6,644 words) Consideration of Lords messageConsideration of Lords Message Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Commons Chamber HM Treasury Mentions: 1: Gareth Davies (Con - Grantham and Bourne) penalised with changes to business property relief; and crippling new red tape through the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Daisy Cooper (LD - St Albans) them, with the NICs changes, business rates bills going up and the new obligations under the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Terms and Conditions of Employment
40 speeches (9,063 words) Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Justin Madders (Lab - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough) Earlier this month, the House approved passage of the landmark Employment Rights Bill, which will benefit - Link to Speech 2: Yuan Yang (Lab - Earley and Woodley) As the Women’s Budget Group has shown, the measures on the minimum wage in the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) Taken with our Employment Rights Bill, that means there will be a real shift for working people across - Link to Speech 4: Sally Jameson (LAB - Doncaster Central) This measure, along with our landmark Employment Rights Bill, will mean that it will once again pay to - Link to Speech 5: Deirdre Costigan (Lab - Ealing Southall) Does he therefore welcome Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, which includes a negotiating framework for - Link to Speech |
Seriously Ill Children: Financial Support for Parents
15 speeches (3,667 words) Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Westminster Hall Department for Work and Pensions Mentions: 1: Stephen Timms (Lab - East Ham) weeks’ unpaid parental leave to look after their children for any reason.The Government’s new Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill
140 speeches (33,397 words) Committee stage part one Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Leader of the House Mentions: 1: Lord Northbrook (Con - Excepted Hereditary) Apparently, on 12 March the Government tabled amendments to change the scope and long title of the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill
61 speeches (6,554 words) Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Monday 24th March 2025 - Lords Chamber HM Treasury Mentions: 1: Lord Londesborough (XB - Excepted Hereditary) close to 7% increases in the national minimum wage and added compliance costs with the new Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Con - Life peer) The Employment Rights Bill is raising its ugly head, frightening people, and the IHT effect on BPR and - Link to Speech |
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
318 speeches (50,447 words) 2nd reading Monday 24th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Mentions: 1: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) If that was not bad enough, the Deputy Prime Minister introduced the Employment Rights Bill—[Hon. - Link to Speech |
Covid-19: Day of Reflection
9 speeches (5,905 words) Thursday 20th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Lord Bishop of London (Bshp - Bishops) We are glad to see the introduction in the Employment Rights Bill of a new right to bereavement leave - Link to Speech |
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)
34 speeches (7,230 words) Committee stage: 4th Sitting Thursday 20th March 2025 - Public Bill Committees Department for Education Mentions: 1: Neil O'Brien (Con - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston) have also chosen this moment to dramatically lower the threshold for strike action with the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Winter Fuel Payment
304 speeches (27,016 words) Wednesday 19th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Work and Pensions Mentions: 1: Alison Griffiths (Con - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) Worse still, their Employment Rights Bill drags Britain back to 1970s French-style labour laws, rolling - Link to Speech 2: Alison Griffiths (Con - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) schools and forced a burden of at least £5 billion on to businesses through their disastrous Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill
141 speeches (17,044 words) Consideration of Lords amendments Wednesday 19th March 2025 - Commons Chamber HM Treasury Mentions: 1: Daisy Cooper (LD - St Albans) increase, the rise in business rate bills, and the new obligations that are imposed by the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Oral Answers to Questions
134 speeches (9,441 words) Wednesday 19th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Cabinet Office Mentions: 1: Keir Starmer (Lab - Holborn and St Pancras) We are proud of the fact that our Employment Rights Bill is tackling the cost of insecure work, and that - Link to Speech |
Welfare Reform
178 speeches (18,216 words) Tuesday 18th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Work and Pensions Mentions: 1: Harriet Cross (Con - Gordon and Buchan) and to de-risking work, but the Treasury’s NIC rises make employing more expensive and the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Oral Answers to Questions
154 speeches (10,095 words) Tuesday 18th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Mentions: 1: Anneliese Midgley (Lab - Knowsley) The Employment Rights Bill is an historic step forward for workers, but these rights must go hand in - Link to Speech |
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
127 speeches (39,136 words) Tuesday 18th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Education Mentions: 1: None they will welcome the breakfast clubs and help with the cost of uniforms, not to mention the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Gregory Stafford (Con - Farnham and Bordon) Like the Employment Rights Bill last week, it is bodged and being rushed through without proper scrutiny - Link to Speech |
Welfare Reform
25 speeches (8,988 words) Tuesday 18th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Department for Work and Pensions Mentions: 1: Lord Vaux of Harrowden (XB - Excepted Hereditary) the noble Baroness will not mind my quoting from the impact assessment that accompanies the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Oral Answers to Questions
161 speeches (10,459 words) Monday 17th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Work and Pensions Mentions: 1: Paul Holmes (Con - Hamble Valley) discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Deirdre Costigan (Lab - Ealing Southall) Does the Minister agree that the default right to flexible working in Labour’s Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Liz Kendall (Lab - Leicester West) We are improving the quality of work and making work pay through our Employment Rights Bill. - Link to Speech |
National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025
20 speeches (5,055 words) Monday 17th March 2025 - Grand Committee HM Treasury Mentions: 1: Baroness Gustafsson (Lab - Life peer) We have also brought forward our landmark Employment Rights Bill, and we continue to work across the - Link to Speech 2: Lord Fox (LD - Life peer) discontinuity in government policy at this point.Finally, the noble Baroness mentioned the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con - Life peer) concur with many of the things that the noble Lord, Lord Fox, said about the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
88 speeches (34,188 words) Monday 17th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Education Mentions: 1: Stephen Morgan (Lab - Portsmouth South) or expect to have parental responsibility, which we are making a day one right through the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Football Governance Bill [HL]
125 speeches (28,323 words) Report stage Monday 17th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Mentions: 1: Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con - Life peer) increase in the minimum wage and the further costs to business that will be coming through the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Employment Rights Bill
1 speech (1 words) 1st reading Friday 14th March 2025 - Lords Chamber |
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill (Tenth sitting)
91 speeches (14,850 words) Committee stage: 10th sitting Thursday 13th March 2025 - Public Bill Committees Department for Education Mentions: 1: Sarah Bool (Con - South Northamptonshire) The Opposition already have concerns about the Employment Rights Bill and the day-one rights that will - Link to Speech |
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)
68 speeches (10,213 words) Committee stage: 1st sitting Thursday 13th March 2025 - Public Bill Committees Department for Education Mentions: 1: Melanie Onn (Lab - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) differential rates of pay between young people and older people, because we have just had the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Neil O'Brien (Con - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston) it into the national living wage, so none of that is novel.I will say one thing about the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Business of the House
103 speeches (10,524 words) Thursday 13th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Leader of the House Mentions: 1: Jesse Norman (Con - Hereford and South Herefordshire) variety of sectors: through the national insurance rise and the £5 billion burden of the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Lucy Powell (LAB - Manchester Central) Yesterday, we completed our Commons stages of the Employment Rights Bill, giving people dignity and security - Link to Speech 3: Steve Race (Lab - Exeter) Yesterday, I was proud to vote for the Employment Rights Bill, which—among other actions—will ban fire - Link to Speech 4: Lucy Powell (LAB - Manchester Central) That is why we need the Employment Rights Bill—I am glad that it has now passed its Commons stages. - Link to Speech |
Oral Answers to Questions
153 speeches (10,466 words) Thursday 13th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Robbie Moore (Con - Keighley and Ilkley) employer national insurance, the increase in business rates, or indeed the changes made to the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Katie Lam (Con - Weald of Kent) 80% of them—four in five—are less likely to hire following soaring taxes and the truly dire Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Justin Madders (Lab - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough) Through the Employment Rights Bill, we are reforming the process for statutory recognition applications - Link to Speech 4: Josh Newbury (Lab - Cannock Chase) workers could now be left at risk of fire and rehire before protections in this Government’s Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 5: Justin Madders (Lab - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough) As he knows, the Employment Rights Bill will end the unscrupulous practice of fire and rehire, which - Link to Speech |
NHS England Update
72 speeches (12,200 words) Thursday 13th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Caroline Johnson (Con - Sleaford and North Hykeham) This announcement comes the same week as Labour’s Employment Rights Bill passes through the Commons. - Link to Speech 2: Wes Streeting (Lab - Ilford North) The urgency is reflected in the Employment Rights Bill, which makes provision for fair pay agreements - Link to Speech |
Employment Rights Bill
222 speeches (43,482 words) Report stage (day 2) Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Johanna Baxter (Lab - Paisley and Renfrewshire South) Ann Francke of the Chartered Management Institute has gone on record as saying:“The Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: None We have, in this Employment Rights Bill, a momentous uplift in workers’ rights and protections, which - Link to Speech 3: Douglas McAllister (Lab - West Dunbartonshire) The Employment Rights Bill is the crucial first step on that path. - Link to Speech 4: Jo White (Lab - Bassetlaw) Such partnerships mean that many of the key employment measures in the Employment Rights Bill have already - Link to Speech |
Oral Answers to Questions
131 speeches (9,528 words) Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Cabinet Office Mentions: 1: Keir Starmer (Lab - Holborn and St Pancras) We are also driving forward our Employment Rights Bill, the biggest boost to workers’ rights in a generation - Link to Speech 2: Ashley Fox (Con - Bridgwater) The Employment Rights Bill will grant union equality representatives the right to paid time off work. - Link to Speech |
Points of Order
9 speeches (500 words) Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mentions: 1: Marie Tidball (Lab - Penistone and Stocksbridge) In my excitement while making my first intervention during proceedings on the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Rural Communities: Government Support
58 speeches (10,014 words) Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Westminster Hall Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mentions: 1: Gregory Stafford (Con - Farnham and Bordon) Only half an hour or so ago, I spoke in the debate on the Employment Rights Bill—another blow to the - Link to Speech |
House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill
86 speeches (26,477 words) Committee stage part one Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Leader of the House Mentions: 1: Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) the Government have tabled Amendments 262 and 263, which will amend the Long Title to the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Football Governance Bill [HL]
121 speeches (26,110 words) Report stage part one Tuesday 11th March 2025 - Lords Chamber Mentions: 1: Lord Ranger of Northwood (Con - Life peer) minimum wage; the further compliance costs that will accompany the Labour Government’s new Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con - Life peer) the Government’s job tax, the increase in the minimum wage and the impending duties in the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
“Chapter 4A
177 speeches (47,644 words) Tuesday 11th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Justin Madders (Lab - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough) It was a Labour party commitment to launch an Employment Rights Bill within 100 days of taking office - Link to Speech 2: Jerome Mayhew (Con - Broadland and Fakenham) website, which states:“The British Chambers of Commerce has used an evidence session on the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Chris Law (SNP - Dundee Central) gumption in their approach to SSP is illustrative of the timidity of their approach in this Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 4: Richard Burgon (Lab - Leeds East) exception of those passed under the last Labour Government, virtually every time we have seen an employment rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Employment Rights Bill
79 speeches (21,138 words) Tuesday 11th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Andy McDonald (Lab - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East) status and address false self-employment“so that these reforms are rolled out alongside…the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Andy McDonald (Lab - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East) employment is good for our constituents, our businesses and our economy, and this crucial Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 3: Imran Hussain (Lab - Bradford East) in thanking him for all the work that he has done in shaping the Bill before us today.The Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 4: Mary Kelly Foy (Lab - City of Durham) them to focus on their own roles without added administrative requirements.This Government’s Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 5: Deirdre Costigan (Lab - Ealing Southall) pushed out of their jobs, will be heartened to see the changes being introduced in the new Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Financial Education
2 speeches (1,142 words) 1st reading Tuesday 11th March 2025 - Commons Chamber Mentions: 1: Peter Bedford (Con - Mid Leicestershire) the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 25 April, and to be printed (Bill 195).Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Employment Rights Bill
0 speeches (None words) Report stage (day 1) Tuesday 11th March 2025 - Commons Chamber |
Gender Critical Beliefs: Equality Act 2010
18 speeches (3,794 words) Tuesday 11th March 2025 - Westminster Hall Wales Office Mentions: 1: Nia Griffith (Lab - Llanelli) employee.Those who seek to harass people at work will not be tolerated, hence our provisions in the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025
8 speeches (3,120 words) Monday 10th March 2025 - Grand Committee Department for Business and Trade Mentions: 1: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab - Life peer) hear about those; I hope that it bodes well for the debates that we are going to have on the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Select Committee Documents |
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Tuesday 1st April 2025
Written Evidence - University of Cambridge (Judge Business School & King's College) HBW0016 - Home-based Working Home-based Working - Home-based Working Committee Found: should-be-made-a-legal-right-in-the-post-pandemic-world/ In 2025: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasroulet/2024/10/05/labours-employment-rights-bill-and-the |
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Written Evidence - City St George's, University of London ELG0004 - Export led growth Export led growth - Business and Trade Committee Found: Streamlining regulations and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy (e.g. eliminating the GDPR and the Employment Rights Bill |
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Oral Evidence - Aviva, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Equality at work: paternity and shared parental leave - Women and Equalities Committee Found: Q68 Rosie Duffield: What impact will the Employment Rights Bill have on the union’s ability to negotiate |
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Written Evidence - Electrical Contractors' Association FES0066 - Further Education and Skills Further Education and Skills - Education Committee Found: employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), and anticipated reforms under the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill |
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Government Response - Post Office Horizon scandal redress: Unfinished business: Government response Business and Trade Committee Found: Session 2024–25 Number Title Reference 3rd Make Work Pay: Employment Rights Bill HC 370 2nd Priorities |
Monday 24th March 2025
Special Report - 1st Special Report - Equality at work: Miscarriage and bereavement leave: Government Response Women and Equalities Committee Found: inquiry included examining the case for extending the bereavement leave measures in the Employment Rights Bill |
Thursday 20th March 2025
Correspondence - Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Chair of the Liaison Committee, to Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care, Department of Health and Social Care, on the Select Committee on Adult Social Care Liaison Committee (Lords) Found: Since coming into power, the Government has made progress in bringing forward the Employment Rights Bill |
Wednesday 19th March 2025
Written Evidence - ABI SPL0056 - Equality at work: paternity and shared parental leave Equality at work: paternity and shared parental leave - Women and Equalities Committee Found: We are also currently engaging with the Employment Rights Bill and are broadly supportive of the provisions |
Tuesday 18th March 2025
Correspondence - Letter from Domestic Angels Franchising Limited relating to the Committee’s third report in to the Employment Rights Bill, 7 March 2025 Business and Trade Committee Found: from Domestic Angels Franchising Limited relating to the Committee’s third report in to the Employment Rights Bill |
Tuesday 18th March 2025
Correspondence - Letter from Evri relating to issues raised by the Committee, 5 March 2025 Business and Trade Committee Found: and Trade Committee By email 5 March 2025 Dear Mr Byrne Make Work Pay: Employment Rights Bill |
Tuesday 18th March 2025
Oral Evidence - The Department for Education, and Department for Education Children’s social care - Education Committee Found: The Employment Rights Bill does not include any measures to strengthen employment rights for kinship |
Monday 17th March 2025
Written Evidence - Mitie VAWG0079 - Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Public Accounts Committee Found: This preventative duty also looks likely to be strengthened by the Employment Rights Bill, which asks |
Monday 17th March 2025
Written Evidence - Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse VAWG0056 - Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Public Accounts Committee Found: Jess Asato MP has taken up this suggestion and tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill. |
Monday 17th March 2025
Written Evidence - Hestia Housing & Support VAWG0052 - Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Public Accounts Committee Found: This could be achieved through an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill, requiring employers to: |
Monday 17th March 2025
Written Evidence - EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute VAWG0025 - Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Public Accounts Committee Found: current Parliamentary consideration of the employers’ statutory obligations, i.e., debates on Employment Rights Bill |
Monday 17th March 2025
Formal Minutes - Formal Minutes 2024-25 Committee of Selection Found: Public Bill Committee Resolved, That the Committee appoint Members to the Employment Rights Bill Committee |
Friday 14th March 2025
Special Report - 1st Special Report - Statutory Sick Pay: Government Response Work and Pensions Committee Found: strengthen SSP, and we are delivering important changes to the SSP system as part of the Employment Rights Bill |
Thursday 13th March 2025
Written Evidence - Association of Mental Health Providers CMH0244 - Community Mental Health Services Community Mental Health Services - Health and Social Care Committee Found: increases in National Insurance contributions, the introduction of Fair Pay Agreements, and the Employment Rights Bill |
Wednesday 12th March 2025
Oral Evidence - Edinburgh Napier University, Institute for Employment Studies, British Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, New Challenge, and Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Get Britain Working – Reforming Jobcentres - Work and Pensions Committee Found: However, we feel that these days a lot of the talk is around the Employment Rights Bill rather than |
Monday 10th March 2025
Written Evidence - Department for Work & Pensions SSP0036 - Statutory Sick Pay Statutory Sick Pay - Work and Pensions Committee Found: strengthen SSP, and we are delivering important changes to the SSP system as part of the Employment Rights Bill |
Monday 10th March 2025
Oral Evidence - Timewise, Learning and Work Institute, and Public First Home-based Working - Home-based Working Committee Found: It is really important and maybe something to be thinking about in terms of the Employment Rights Bill |
Monday 10th March 2025
Oral Evidence - University of Sheffield, University of Birmingham, and University of Cardiff Home-based Working - Home-based Working Committee Found: You will have seen reports that the right to disconnect is possibly being dropped from the Employment Rights Bill |
Written Answers |
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Department for Work and Pensions: Working Hours
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove) Monday 31st March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of four-day working weeks. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) While the government continues to monitor the impact of flexible working, it has made no assessment of the four-day week specifically. Additionally, the government has no plans to mandate a four-day week, however, through the Employment Rights Bill we are giving employees better access to flexible working arrangements, where reasonably feasible. Not all businesses will be able to offer all forms of flexible working, and not all arrangements will suit all employees equally. We want to create a framework that encourages employers and employees to explore options for flexible working arrangements that suit both parties. |
Conditions of Employment
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove) Monday 31st March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of companies closing and subsequently setting up a new similar company, with the result of (a) job losses, (b) workplace bullying and (c) changes to working conditions on employees’ rights. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced new measures to help combat ‘phoenixing’ - when a director dissolves a company to avoid debts or other responsibilities, to then set up another similar company. The accompanying impact assessment provides the government’s assessment of the evidence relating to this practice. Alongside this, the Employment Rights Bill is delivering the biggest upgrade to workers rights and protections in a generation, including strengthening collective redundancy rights and ending unscrupulous practices of fire and rehire. |
Shipping: Crew
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim) Friday 28th March 2025 Question to the Department for Transport: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of seafarers' welfare, in the context of roster patterns. Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) The Government is committed to strengthening workers’ rights at sea, which is why as part of the Employment Rights Bill we are introducing powers for Ministers to create a legally-binding Seafarers’ Charter. This will protect and improve seafarer working conditions, including by addressing seafarer fatigue.
We will continue to work with like-minded states and through international forums to raise international standards for seafarer welfare.
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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Parental Leave
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire) Thursday 27th March 2025 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) No. The Civil Service Management Code sets out that, ‘Departments and agencies may only grant shared parental leave in accordance with the statutory requirements governing eligibility for this category of leave.’ However, some staff could qualify for statutory shared parental leave on their first day of service with a particular department because they already have service with another department.
As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect. |
Industrial Disputes: National Security
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay) Thursday 27th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29005 on Risk Assessment, whether the National Security Risk Assessment on industrial action has changed in light of the expected (a) repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 and (b) the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) All risks in the internal, classified National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) are kept under review to ensure that they are the most appropriate scenarios to inform emergency preparedness and resilience activity and to reflect the risk landscape. The National Risk Register, which reflects the NSRA, was last updated in January 2025 and will be updated regularly to reflect changes to the risk landscape.
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Conditions of Employment: Families
Asked by: Baroness Penn (Conservative - Life peer) Wednesday 26th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask His Majesty's Government what responses they received to questions on transparency and large employers publishing their family-related leave and pay policies following their consultation on the ‘Good Work Plan: Proposals to support families’; and how have they responded to the outcomes of the consultation regarding these questions. Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) The consultation on publication of parental leave and pay policies was undertaken by the previous government.
This government is committed to supporting working families. The Employment Rights Bill will make the right to request flexible working the default, make Paternity and Parental Leave Day one rights, and will require large employers to produce equality action plans, amongst other measures.
As a result, we do not believe that requiring businesses to publish their family-related leave and pay policies is necessary at this time. |
Small Businesses: Conditions of Employment and Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Wednesday 26th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to introduce a feedback mechanism for small-to-medium sized businesses to report issues relating to the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement procurement criteria and (b) obligations for employers in the Employment Rights Bill. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations.
We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits.
The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country.
To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Small Businesses: Conditions of Employment and Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Wednesday 26th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the (a) updated National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on the capacity of small and medium enterprises to (i) bid for and (ii) undertake public contracts. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations.
We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits.
The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country.
To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Small Businesses: Conditions of Employment and Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Wednesday 26th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement on 13 February 2025, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of small-to-medium sized enterprises on the potential impact of the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on the administration of businesses. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations.
We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits.
The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country.
To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Tuesday 25th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement, published on 13 February 2025, what estimate he has made of the cost for contracting authorities of implementing (a) that Statement and (b) the Employment Rights Bill. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) sets out our vision for public procurement unlocking the full potential of the £400 billion spent annually on public procurement to drive sustainable economic growth and maximise social value to support mission delivery. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, small businesses and civil society. We have also met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. Contracting authorities are best placed to determine how the strategic priorities set out in the NPPS can be incorporated into their overall procurement strategies and individual public contracts.
An Impact Assessment in relation to the Procurement Act was published in May 2022 and can be found at: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Guidance will be issued as appropriate in due course. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments |
Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Tuesday 25th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement, published on 13 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) that Statement and (b) the Employment Rights Bill on public sector procurement timelines. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) sets out our vision for public procurement unlocking the full potential of the £400 billion spent annually on public procurement to drive sustainable economic growth and maximise social value to support mission delivery. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, small businesses and civil society. We have also met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. Contracting authorities are best placed to determine how the strategic priorities set out in the NPPS can be incorporated into their overall procurement strategies and individual public contracts.
An Impact Assessment in relation to the Procurement Act was published in May 2022 and can be found at: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Guidance will be issued as appropriate in due course. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments |
Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Tuesday 25th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement, published on 13 February 2025, what guidance he has issued to contracting authorities on the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement’s procurement priorities and (b) Employment Rights Bill's mandate for statutory probation periods. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) sets out our vision for public procurement unlocking the full potential of the £400 billion spent annually on public procurement to drive sustainable economic growth and maximise social value to support mission delivery. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, small businesses and civil society. We have also met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. Contracting authorities are best placed to determine how the strategic priorities set out in the NPPS can be incorporated into their overall procurement strategies and individual public contracts.
An Impact Assessment in relation to the Procurement Act was published in May 2022 and can be found at: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Guidance will be issued as appropriate in due course. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments |
Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Tuesday 25th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement, published on 13 February 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure that enhanced procurement obligations do not increase public spending. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) sets out our vision for public procurement unlocking the full potential of the £400 billion spent annually on public procurement to drive sustainable economic growth and maximise social value to support mission delivery. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, small businesses and civil society. We have also met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. Contracting authorities are best placed to determine how the strategic priorities set out in the NPPS can be incorporated into their overall procurement strategies and individual public contracts.
An Impact Assessment in relation to the Procurement Act was published in May 2022 and can be found at: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Guidance will be issued as appropriate in due course. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments |
Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Tuesday 25th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement, published on 13 February 2025, what steps he is taking to monitor the potential impact of the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on small-to-medium-sized business participation in public procurement. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. As part of this I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country.
To support implementation of the NPPS in central government, we have announced new rules requiring all government departments and their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies to set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs from 1 April 2025, and from 1 April 2026 for VCSEs, and publish progress annually. This will drive greater transparency and accountability for increasing numbers of SMEs and VCSEs delivering public contracts, supporting local economic growth and innovation and creating jobs in local communities up and down the country.
To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Tuesday 25th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement published on 13 February 2025, what steps the Government has taken to support small-to-medium-sized businesses to adapt to new procurement processes. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. As part of this I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country.
To support implementation of the NPPS in central government, we have announced new rules requiring all government departments and their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies to set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs from 1 April 2025, and from 1 April 2026 for VCSEs, and publish progress annually. This will drive greater transparency and accountability for increasing numbers of SMEs and VCSEs delivering public contracts, supporting local economic growth and innovation and creating jobs in local communities up and down the country.
To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials.
The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Classroom Assistants: Conditions of Employment and Pay
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley) Monday 24th March 2025 Question to the Department for Education: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) pay and (b) other conditions of teaching assistants in schools. Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education) Teaching assistants play a vital role in children’s education. Most school support staff, including teaching assistants, are currently employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services pay and conditions. The NJC is a negotiating body made up of representatives from trade unions and local government employers. Local government employees covered by the NJC for local government services pay and conditions were offered a flat cash uplift of £1,290 from 1 April 2024. In October 2024 an agreement was reached on the 2024/25 pay award for these employees, which covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why the department is reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in Parliament on 10 October 2024. The SSSNB will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions, and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The SSSNB will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake. The SSSNB will give a voice to support staff, who make up roughly half of the school workforce, but are currently employed on terms and conditions negotiated by a wider framework for local government employees rather than a school specific body. It will help address the recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This in turn will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances. |
Classroom Assistants: Devon
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot) Saturday 22nd March 2025 Question to the Department for Education: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department plans to take to increase (a) salaries for and (b) retention of teaching assistants in Devon. Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education) This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why we are reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in Parliament on 10 October 2024. The SSSNB will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The SSSNB will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake. The SSSNB will help address the recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This in turn will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances. To support schools with overall costs, this government committed to providing almost £1.1 billion in additional funding in the 2024/25 financial year. Further to this, at the Autumn Budget 2024 the government announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and children and young people with high needs for 2025/26, compared to 2024/25. Most school support staff, including teaching assistants, are currently employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services pay and conditions. The NJC is a negotiating body made up of representatives from trade unions and local government employers. Local government employees covered by the NJC for local government services pay and conditions were offered a flat cash uplift of £1,290 from 1 April 2024. In October 2024 an agreement was reached on the 2024/25 pay award for these employees, which covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Teaching assistants (TAs) play a vital role in children’s education. There are 282,925 full-time equivalent TAs in state-funded schools in England – up by approximately 1,800 since last year. The number of TAs has increased year on year since 2017/18. |
Special Educational Needs: Devon
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot) Saturday 22nd March 2025 Question to the Department for Education: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide wage support to the lowest paid teaching (a) staff and (b) assistants in SEND schools in Devon. Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education) This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why we are reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in Parliament on 10 October 2024. The SSSNB will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The SSSNB will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake. The SSSNB will help address the recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This in turn will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances. To support schools with overall costs, this government committed to providing almost £1.1 billion in additional funding in the 2024/25 financial year. Further to this, at the Autumn Budget 2024 the government announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and children and young people with high needs for 2025/26, compared to 2024/25. Most school support staff, including teaching assistants, are currently employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services pay and conditions. The NJC is a negotiating body made up of representatives from trade unions and local government employers. Local government employees covered by the NJC for local government services pay and conditions were offered a flat cash uplift of £1,290 from 1 April 2024. In October 2024 an agreement was reached on the 2024/25 pay award for these employees, which covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Teaching assistants (TAs) play a vital role in children’s education. There are 282,925 full-time equivalent TAs in state-funded schools in England – up by approximately 1,800 since last year. The number of TAs has increased year on year since 2017/18. |
Conditions of Employment
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds) Thursday 20th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the planned Right to Switch Off, what plans he has for the application of this policy (a) on fallow days for employees, (b) during office hours on Mondays to Fridays for people who work (i) standard working patterns, (ii) part-time and (iii) compressed hours and (c) for people who work four-day weeks on full-pay. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) In “Next Steps to Make Work Pay” the Government said it would deliver the right to switch off through a Statutory Code of Practice, rather than through the Employment Rights Bill. A Code of Practice sets out guidelines for employers to follow. A failure to comply with a code of practice can be taken into account by an Employment Tribunal. We are developing the content of a draft Code with key stakeholders including both business representative groups and trade unions. In due course, that draft Code will be subject to a full formal consultation process. |
Fair Work Agency
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings) Wednesday 19th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse for establishing the Fair Work Agency. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) The Employment Rights Bill is the first phase of delivering our plan to Make Work Pay, supporting employers, workers, and unions to get Britain moving forward. Establishing the Fair Work Agency will create a strong, recognisable single brand so individuals know where to go for help and lead to a more effective use of resources We are committed to ensuring that the Fair Work Agency is established on a sound financial footing and operates effectively in fulfilling its mandate. We will set out details about the approach we will take to implementation and annual costs in due course. |
Employment: Women
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh) Wednesday 19th March 2025 Question To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help women re-enter the workforce. Answered by Bridget Phillipson - Minister for Women and Equalities The Government is committed to tackling the challenges women face in the labour market, whether they want to find a job, return to work, or progress in-work. We are driving this forward through the support measures in the Employment Rights Bill, Make Work Pay and the Get Britain Working White Paper. We are making flexible learning a Day One right, opening up access to childcare with £8 billion investment to roll out further free hours, and tackling the gender pay gap to ensure women are paid fairly. |
Government Departments: Zero Hours Contracts
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer) Wednesday 19th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask His Majesty's Government which government departments currently employ people on zero-hour contracts. Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) The number of (a) civil servants and (b) contractors employed on zero hour contracts is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.
Zero hours contracts are not the normal practice or a recommended approach within the Civil Service. Departments may use them in very limited circumstances to help meet exceptional or fluctuating demands on the business.
The flexibility offered by zero hours contracts, zero hour arrangements and low hour contracts can benefit both workers and employers, but without proper safeguards this flexibility can become one-sided, with workers bearing all the financial risk. The Government’s Employment Rights Bill will end one-sided flexibility, ensuring that jobs provide a baseline of security and predictability so workers can better plan their lives and finances. We will consult extensively on the implementation of the legislation to ensure it works for workers and employers alike, and anticipate this meaning the majority of reforms will take effect no earlier than 2026. Government understands that adjusting to these new reforms will take time and is committed to ensuring that all stakeholders receive appropriate time to prepare for these changes ahead of their commencement. |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Paternity Leave
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs) Monday 17th March 2025 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) All staff working for the department and its arm’s length bodies are entitled to paternity leave, subject to qualifying service, which varies between organisations.
Some staff could qualify for statutory paternity leave on their first day of service with their department because they already have qualifying service with another Civil Service organisation, or because their organisation offers it on day 1.
As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect. |
Employment: Lancashire
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde) Friday 14th March 2025 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on employment rates in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire. Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) As part of the Government’s ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate, the Employment Rights Bill will make work more secure, boost wages, and help working people thrive.
In Fylde, our Jobcentre Employer and Partnership Teams work with a range of employers and partners to enhance the skills and employment support available locally. An example of this includes working closely with local employers, partners and providers to hold job fairs and events to support recruitments and supporting customers into sustainable employment.
The Jobcentre also collaborates with the Local Authority, as well as other government departments and further education providers to improve employment opportunities for the people of Lancashire. |
British Retail Consortium: Part-time Employment
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer) Friday 14th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the British Retail Consortium that 160,000 part-time retail jobs may be at risk as a result of regulatory changes and increased employer costs. Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) The Government is creating a fairer business rate system and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support business and boost opportunities. Delivering on our plan to Make Work Pay is a core part of the Government's Plan for Change, supporting the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards and create opportunities for all. The Department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis includes consideration of increases in labour costs for businesses and the subsequent effects. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments. |
Technology: Equality
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire) Thursday 13th March 2025 Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to support the technology industry in adopting data-led practices to improve diversity in the sector; and whether the Department plans to support an industry diversity accreditation scheme. Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) The Government is committed to promoting diversity in the tech sector and is doing so in a number of ways. DSIT is supporting the Tech Future Taskforce on Social Mobility, which includes helping companies to collect and act upon data to promote tech workforce diversity. As committed in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, DfE and DSIT will collaborate with industry to publish a plan to improve the diversity of the AI talent pool. More widely, the Employment Rights Bill and Equality (Race and Disability) Bill will strengthen reporting and action on gender, race and disability by large companies, which includes tech companies. |
Higher Education: Re-employment
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow) Thursday 13th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of the use of fire and rehire practices in higher education in England; and what steps he plans to take to address it. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) The Government has published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill including an impact assessment of the Bill’s measure to end the unscrupulous use of fire and rehire. The evidence on the prevalence of the practice of fire and rehire is limited, however. Department for Business and Trade analysis suggests that <1% of employers might engage in the practice each year. We are strengthening the law in this area to make it clear that the unscrupulous use of fire and rehire and fire and replace are not acceptable and will be an automatically unfair dismissal. |
Statutory Sick Pay
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey) Wednesday 12th March 2025 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changing the replacement rate to the Statutory Sick Pay lower earnings limit on people on this limit. Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) The Department undertook a Regulatory Impact Assessment covering the measures in the Employment Rights Bill to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay: removing the Lower Earnings Limit and the waiting period. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments. |
Small Businesses: Sick Pay
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock) Wednesday 12th March 2025 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the rate of statutory sick pay on financial costs for small businesses. Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) The Department undertook a Regulatory Impact Assessment covering the measures in the Employment Rights Bill to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay: removing the Lower Earnings Limit and the waiting period. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments. The Regulatory Impact Assessment estimates that small and micro businesses pay around 60% of the annual SSP cost to employer. |
Employment Rights Bill: Small Businesses
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock) Wednesday 12th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on regulatory requirements for small and medium-sized enterprises. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) On Monday 21 October, the Government published 24 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill. These Impact Assessments are available at the following link: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments. As per our Better Regulation requirements, each Impact Assessment includes a small, medium and micro business assessment, which discuss the potential impacts of the Employment Rights Bill. |
Zero Hours Contracts
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock) Wednesday 12th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to allow businesses to retain the ability to offer zero-hours contracts where that is in the interests of employees. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) The Employment Rights Bill seeks to end exploitative zero hours contracts, ensuring that all jobs provide a baseline of security and predictability so workers can better plan their lives and finances. We recognise that some workers need and value the flexibility that a zero hours contract can provide. Under the Bill, those who are offered guaranteed hours will be able to turn these down and remain on their current contract or arrangement if they wish. |
Flexible Working and Reasonable Adjustments
Asked by: Lee Barron (Labour - Corby and East Northamptonshire) Wednesday 12th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to (a) strengthen the right to flexible working for people with neuro-disabilities and (b) make it the default position for all employers to offer reasonable adjustments for people with (i) cerebral palsy and (ii) other neuro-disabilities. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) The Employment Rights Bill contains measures to make flexible working the default for all employees, except where it is not reasonably feasible.
A job applicant or employee with cerebral palsy will almost certainly meet the Equality Act 2010's definition of disability, which is a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. As such, the law will already have the "default" position that an employer must make reasonable adjustments for that person, provided that they are aware that the person has the condition, in the case of job applicants. In the case of neuro-diverse people, it is appropriate for employers to use the definition set out above, to make decisions on the need for reasonable adjustments. |
Personal Care Services: VAT
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport) Tuesday 11th March 2025 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on workers rights of the British Hair Consortium’s report entitled Securing the future of UK hairdressing and beauty: The economic, fiscal & societal case for VAT reform, published in February 2025. Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) The industry plays an important economic and social role across the UK, which is why we are creating a fairer business rates system, increasing the Employment Allowance and transforming the apprenticeship levy.
We are committed to tackling false self-employment and will investigate evidence suggesting businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes. The Employment Rights Bill will make widescale changes to employment law that will support growth in the UK, bringing greater security at work, greater pay, better staff retention, making jobs more secure and supporting women in work in every stage of life. |
Statutory Sick Pay
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey) Tuesday 11th March 2025 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the rate of statutory sick pay. Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) No one should be forced to choose between their health and financial hardship. Through the Employment Rights Bill we are strengthening Statutory Sick Pay. Up to 1.3 million low-paid employees will now be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay and all eligible employees will be paid from the first day of sickness absence irrespective of their income, benefiting millions of employees.
While the Department has not assessed the adequacy of the rate of Statutory Sick Pay, a Regulatory Impact Assessment and an Equality Impact Assessment of the Statutory Sick Pay measures in the Employment Rights Bill have been undertaken.
The existing rate of Statutory Sick Pay is designed to balance providing support for employees, whilst helping to manage the costs to employers. |
Social Services: Exploitation
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East) Tuesday 11th March 2025 Question to the Department of Health and Social Care: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to establish a full investigation into exploitation within social care. Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care) We have seen unacceptable increases in unethical practices and exploitation in the adult social care sector. The Government is delivering legislation to improve employment rights, and the Fair Work Agency in the Employment Rights Bill will bring together existing state enforcement functions and, over time, take on enforcement of a wider range of employment rights. The Department also continues to work closely with regulators, local authorities, other departments, and enforcement bodies to share concerns and intelligence about illegal or unethical practices in adult social care. The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority investigates reports of worker exploitation and illegal activity, such as human trafficking, modern slavery, forced labour, as well as offences under the National Minimum Wage Act, working with HM Revenue and Customs, and the Employment Agencies Acts, working with the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate. The Home Office has also begun delivery of new measures, meaning that any business employing overseas workers found guilty of serious employment law breaches, such as failing to comply with National Minimum Wage, will have action taken against them, up to and including having their visa sponsorship licences refused or revoked. |
Employment
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock) Tuesday 11th March 2025 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support working age non-graduates find permanent employment. Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) The Get Britain Working White Paper set out Governments ambition to reduce economic inactivity and increase the number of people in work. Key proposals include:
In addition, more pre-employment training courses are being made available to benefit claimants through an expansion of DWP’s Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs). (Up from 80,000 a year in 2021/22 to 2024/25, to 100,000 a year from 2025/26.)
SWAPs offer certain participants in England and Scotland the opportunity of training towards a job in a particular industry, alongside a work placement and a guaranteed interview.
We have set out plans to overhaul our support for employers by hosting summits with representatives across sectors crucial to growth, serving employers through a dedicated team, providing an account manager for employers and commissioning Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent review into the role of employers in reducing health-related inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces.
In addition, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is tasked with making work pay through upgrading workers' rights and engaging businesses, with a focus on key sectors to take advantage of new opportunities and promote growth. The DBT's Employment Rights Bill and Industrial Strategy Council aim to make work more secure, boost wages, and help working people thrive. |
Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire) Monday 10th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's National Procurement Policy Statement published on 13 February 2025, whether he has made an estimate of compliance costs for contracting authorities in implementing the (a) updated statement and (b) the Employment Rights Bill. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) Contracting authorities must have regard to the NPPS when undertaking their procurement activities, as set out in the Procurement Act 2023. An Impact Assessment in relation to the Procurement Act was published in May 2022 and can be found at https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767. Impact assessments for the Employment Rights Bill led by the Department for Business and Trade can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire) Monday 10th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement published on 13 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the updated statement and (b) the Employment Rights Bill on public sector procurement timelines. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) Contracting authorities must have regard to the NPPS when undertaking their procurement activities, as set out in the Procurement Act 2023. An Impact Assessment in relation to the Procurement Act was published in May 2022 and can be found at https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767. Impact assessments for the Employment Rights Bill led by the Department for Business and Trade can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Public Sector: Procurement
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire) Monday 10th March 2025 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what training programmes his Department has put in place to help procurement officials navigate the (a) recently updated National Procurement Policy Statement and the (b) Employment Rights Bill. Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) Contracting authorities must have regard to the NPPS when undertaking their procurement activities, as set out in the Procurement Act 2023. An Impact Assessment in relation to the Procurement Act was published in May 2022 and can be found at https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/46429/documents/1767. Impact assessments for the Employment Rights Bill led by the Department for Business and Trade can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
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Parliamentary Research |
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Employment Rights Bill: Bill 81 of 2024-25 - LLN-2025-0017
Mar. 20 2025 Found: Employment Rights Bill: Bill 81 of 2024-25 |
National Audit Office |
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Mar. 27 2025
Department for Business and Trade overview 2023-24 (PDF) Found: The 2024 King’s Speech and accompanying memorandum included 40 new bills, including the Employment Rights Bill |
Department Publications - Transparency |
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Thursday 27th March 2025
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Source Page: MHCLG: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2024 Document: (webpage) Found: Directors, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development To discuss unfair dismissal and the Employment Rights Bill |
Department Publications - Consultations |
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Tuesday 18th March 2025
Department for Work and Pensions Source Page: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper Document: (PDF) Found: • Making work pay – increasing the National Living Wage and introducing our Employment Rights Bill |
Tuesday 18th March 2025
Department for Work and Pensions Source Page: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper Document: (PDF) Found: • Making work pay – increasing the National Living Wage and introducing our Employment Rights Bill |
Non-Departmental Publications - News and Communications |
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Mar. 08 2025
Office for Equality and Opportunity Source Page: Women key to unlocking growth says Minister for Women and Equalities Document: Women key to unlocking growth says Minister for Women and Equalities (webpage) News and Communications Found: Through our landmark Employment Rights Bill, we are taking the first steps towards requiring employers |
Deposited Papers |
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Tuesday 18th March 2025
Source Page: Action plan: A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth. 19p. Document: Action_Plan-regulators_and_regulation_support_growth.pdf (PDF) Found: The Government is legislating for this change through the Employment Rights Bill. |
Scottish Committee Publications |
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Tuesday 4th March 2025
Report - A report by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee on the delegated powers that are relevant to Scotland in the Employment Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation). Legislative Consent Memorandum: delegated powers relevant to Scotland in the Employment Rights Bill Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee Found: Legislative Consent Memorandum: delegated powers relevant to Scotland in the Employment Rights Bill A |
Scottish Government Publications |
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Thursday 6th February 2025
Source Page: Fair Work Oversight Group minutes: December 2024 Document: Fair Work Oversight Group minutes: December 2024 (webpage) Found: Scottish Government’s progress on Fair Work being outstripped by upcoming legislation in the UK Employment Rights Bill |
Monday 20th January 2025
Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate Source Page: Documentation related to tackling child poverty: FOI release Document: FOI 2020400441728 - Information released (PDF) Found: We look forward to engaging on the proposed UK Bills, including the Employment Rights Bill and the Equality |
Wednesday 27th November 2024
Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate Source Page: Scottish Asylum Right to Work Proposal Document: Scottish Asylum Right to Work Proposal (PDF) Found: Work principles and the UK legal employment framework, for example the recently announced Employment Rights Bill |
Scottish Written Answers |
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S6W-35998
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes (Scottish Labour - North East Scotland) Thursday 27th March 2025 Question To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of so-called "fire-and-rehire" practices in the public sector in Scotland, in light of the proposed Employment Rights Bill by the UK Government. Answered by Arthur, Tom - Minister for Employment and Investment The Scottish Government has been consistently clear that it opposes fire and rehire practices. The vast majority of employers consult and reach agreement with their employees when they have to consider making changes to contracts and will only consider using fire and rehire practices as an exceptional and pressing business necessity. In such cases, we are clear that there must be meaningful dialogue between employers and employees and their trade unions, to ensure transparency and that employees are treated fairly. The Scottish Government welcomes the Employment Rights Bill, which is an opportunity to put on a statutory footing some of the progress we have made already in Scotland through our Fair Work approach with the levers at our disposal. Scottish Ministers are clear, however, that the best way to provide long term protection for Scotland’s workers is by devolving employment law. |
S6W-35303
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes (Scottish Labour - North East Scotland) Wednesday 12th March 2025 Question To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with the UK Government regarding (a) trade union recognition and (b) the application of the national minimum wage in the maritime supply chain for the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. Answered by Martin, Gillian - Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Employment and industrial relations legislation is reserved to the UK Parliament. While this remains the case, the Scottish Government will continue to use our Fair Work policy to drive up labour market standards for workers across the Scottish labour market. Ministers are clear that the best way to protect Scotland’s workers is by devolving employment law. However, Ministers welcome the UK Government’s Employment Rights Bill and continue to work with them to ensure it has a positive impact across Scotland. There have been no discussions with the UK Government specifically regarding trade union recognition or the application of the national minimum wage in the maritime supply chain for the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. |
Scottish Parliamentary Research (SPICe) |
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Intergovernmental activity update Q4 2024
Thursday 30th January 2025 This update gives an overview of intergovernmental activity of relevance to the Scottish Parliament between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive during quarter four (October to December) of 2024. View source webpage Found: 2024 Consent recommended Data (Use and Access) Bill 22 November 2024 Consent recommended Employment Rights Bill |
Scottish Parliamentary Debates |
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Cost of Living
133 speeches (144,780 words) Tuesday 11th March 2025 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: O'Kane, Paul (Lab - West Scotland) national living wage will result in a pay rise for 200,000 of the lowest-paid Scots, and the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
United Kingdom Government Welfare Reforms
35 speeches (33,981 words) Thursday 6th March 2025 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: O'Kane, Paul (Lab - West Scotland) That goes alongside the UK Employment Rights Bill, which I will speak about in my contribution.From reading - Link to Speech |
Community Wealth Building
38 speeches (30,632 words) Tuesday 18th February 2025 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Arthur, Tom (SNP - Renfrewshire South) With regard to the current UK Government’s agenda of making work pay and, specifically, the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |
Health and Social Care Workforce
95 speeches (131,978 words) Wednesday 29th January 2025 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Todd, Maree (SNP - Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) We are also working with the UK Government on the Employment Rights Bill, to ensure that it works for - Link to Speech |
National Care Service
46 speeches (32,224 words) Thursday 23rd January 2025 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Todd, Maree (SNP - Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) I am working very closely with the UK Government on its Employment Rights Bill, which will, I think, - Link to Speech |
Miners Strike (40th Anniversary)
38 speeches (53,915 words) Wednesday 27th November 2024 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Grant, Rhoda (Lab - Highlands and Islands) Government will bring forward the new deal for working people and that it has introduced the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech 2: Arthur, Tom (SNP - Renfrewshire South) However, I welcome the current UK Government’s Employment Rights Bill, which has the potential to put - Link to Speech |
National Care Service
35 speeches (27,666 words) Thursday 21st November 2024 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Todd, Maree (SNP - Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) are engaging constructively and meaningfully with the United Kingdom Government around the Employment Rights Bill - Link to Speech |