Written Statements
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Employment Rights Act 2025: Implementation
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The Minister for the Future of Work (Kate Dearden)
Employment laws have not kept pace with modern working patterns. Too many workers lack the protections they need at work, while responsible businesses face unfair competition from those willing to exploit gaps in outdated employment laws. The plan to make work pay is modernising employment rights to respond to a changing labour market and create a fairer, more secure economy for workers and businesses. More than 18 million employees are expected to benefit from the new protections. We are delivering these reforms in partnership with businesses, trade unions, public sector employers and civil society through extensive engagement and consultation, helping to ensure that the changes work in practice for employers and workers.
Following my most recent update to Parliament, the UK Government are today announcing further progress in the implementation of the Employment Rights Act, as part of the plan to make work pay with the launch of a consultation on a new code of practice for fire and rehire alongside the publication of Government responses on enhanced protections for pregnant workers, and fire and rehire regulations.
Consultation and Government response 1: fire and rehire
The Employment Rights Act 2025 will make it automatically unfair to dismiss an employee in order to change certain core contract terms. These terms include reductions to pay or leave, changes to working hours or pension arrangements, or specified changes to shift patterns—restricted variations. To avoid unnecessary redundancies, the measures will not apply to employers who meet a narrow exemption for financial difficulties.
A consultation on “fire and rehire—changes to expenses, benefits and shift patterns” ran from 4 February to 1 April 2026. It sought views on which expenses and benefits should be excluded from the scope of the restricted variation of reductions to pay, and whether there are any types of shift pattern changes that should also be protected as a restricted variation.
The Government response confirms the final policy approach for drafting the regulations:
Expenses and benefits in kind will be excluded from the restricted variation of definition of sums payable to an employee in connection with the employment, aside from a defined list, to include, travel and accommodation expenses incurred in performance of your role and long-term accommodation as a benefit in kind.
Only extreme, as defined, shift pattern changes—day to night and vice versa, and weekday to weekend and vice versa—are in scope of the restricted variation of the timing or duration of a shift.
The Government response was published on 22 October 2026 and, subject to debates in Parliament, regulations will come into force in March 2027.
The Government are committed to ending the scourges of fire and rehire, and fire and replace. We will actively monitor how the fire and rehire provisions operate in practice on an ongoing basis, including the extent to which the new legislation shapes employer approaches and organisational behaviour. If fire and rehire practices continue, the Government will act urgently to put a stop to them. This includes, where needed, making use of powers in the Employment Rights Act to legislate, including by expanding the scope of restricted variations. Likewise, the Government would be prepared to put in place further legislative measures in order to meet our commitment to end fire and rehire, and fire and replace—including the introduction of interim injunctions and interim relief.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 aims to tackle unscrupulous fire and rehire, and fire and replace, practices. The Government are consulting on the draft of the code of practice on dismissal and re-engagement, which provides practical guidance on preventing, managing and resolving conflict and dispute when contract changes cannot be agreed and an employer is considering making unilateral changes to contract terms. The code outlines how the statutory protections against fire and rehire, and fire and replace, are expected to apply. It also sets expectations for reasonable conduct from all parties.
This consultation will be open for eight weeks, closing on 17 December 2026. The existing code of practice on fire and rehire will be revoked simultaneously to the regulations coming into force in March 2027. The new code will come into effect in summer 2027.
Government response 2: enhanced protections for pregnant workers
Despite existing legal protections related to pregnancy and maternity, many women continue to face a significant and unique risk to their job security during pregnancy, maternity leave, and in their return to work. In our plan to make work pay, we committed to strengthening protections for pregnant women by making it unlawful to dismiss a woman who is pregnant, on maternity leave or has recently returned to work, except in specific circumstances. The Employment Rights Act 2025 provides powers for the Government to make provision about dismissal during or after the protected period of pregnancy and we intend to use these powers to fulfil the make work pay commitment to strengthen dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers.
The Government consulted on proposals to strengthen dismissal protections from 23 October 2025 to 15 January 2026. The consultation sought views on how enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women, new mothers and other new parents should operate in practice. This included in what circumstances dismissal should be allowed, when the protections should start and end, and how the framework should apply across different forms of family leave. It also invited views on implementation considerations, including on guidance, awareness and support for employers.
The Government response was published on 22 October and sets out the final policy decisions and its next steps for implementation. Measures set out in the response include:
Strengthening the legal framework governing dismissal during the protected period; andensuring comparable protections are available to employees taking other qualifying forms of leave.
When implemented, these reforms will help to ensure that dismissal during the protected period is proportionate and is considered only after employers have appropriately explored reasonable alternatives. The stricter legal standard will create stronger protections against dismissal for pregnant women, new mothers and other new parents, and will fairly balance employer and employee interests.
The detail of the enhanced dismissal protections will be delivered in secondary legislation, and the Government intend for the measures to come into force in October 2027.
Next steps for consultation
The Government have committed to delivering this change in partnership with businesses, trade unions, employers and civil society. That is why we are undertaking full and comprehensive consultation with these groups on key changes. By delivering this change together, we are backing businesses that do the right thing, and giving hard-working people the job security and opportunities they deserve. The Government will continue to keep Parliament updated on the implementation of the Employment Rights Act and the plan to make work pay.
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UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly: Appointments
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The Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations (Mr Hamish Falconer)
My hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Julia Buckley) has been appointed as a full representative of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford and Bow (Uma Kumaran).
My hon. Friend the Member for Bathgate and Linlithgow (Kirsteen Sullivan) has been appointed as a full representative of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Derby North (Catherine Atkinson).
My hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Irene Campbell) has been appointed as a substitute representative of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Northfield (Laurence Turner).
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Office for Nuclear Regulation: Executive Powers Annual Report
(2 days, 10 hours ago)
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The Minister for Energy (Michael Shanks)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has today published the annual report setting out the use of the Secretary of State’s powers exercised in respect of the Office for Nuclear Regulation during the year 2025-26. This is in accordance with section 108 of the Energy Act 2013.
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NATO Parliamentary Assembly: Appointment
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Uma Kumaran)
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe, International Security & Growth (Lord Wood of Anfield) has today made the following statement:
The hon. Member for Portsmouth North (Amanda Martin MP) has been appointed as a member of the United Kingdom delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in place of the hon. Member for Widnes and Halewood (Derek Twigg MP).
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Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: Appointments
(2 days, 10 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Uma Kumaran)
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe, International Security & Growth (Lord Wood of Anfield) has today made the following statement:
The hon. Member for Washington and Gateshead South (Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP) has been appointed as a full member of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in place of the hon. Member for Sherwood Forest (Michelle Welsh MP).
The hon. Member for Wrexham (Andrew Ranger MP) has been appointed as a substitute member of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in place of the hon. Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Elaine Stewart MP).
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Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE: Appointments
(2 days, 10 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Uma Kumaran)
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe, International Security and Growth (Lord Wood of Anfield) has today made the following statement:
The hon. Member for Chester North and Neston (Samantha Dixon MP) has been appointed as a full representative of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in place of the right hon. Member for Knowsley (Anneliese Midgley MP).
The hon. Member for Chester North and Neston (Samantha Dixon MP) has also been appointed as Leader of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter MP) has been appointed as a full representative of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in place of the right hon. Member for Sheffield Heeley (Louise Haigh MP).
The Lord Moraes OBE has been appointed as a full representative of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in place of the Lord Hannett of Everton OBE.
The Lord Watts has been appointed as a full representative of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in place of the right hon. Baroness Winterton of Doncaster DBE.
The Lord John of Southwark OBE has been appointed as a substitute member of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in place of the Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath.
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Transport Resilience Strategy
(2 days, 10 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)
I want to inform the House that my Department has published the transport resilience strategy today.
Transport is vital to our way of life. It connects people to family and jobs, and goods to industry, and it supports connectivity, economic growth and health. A secure and resilient transport system is essential to thriving communities and to delivering economic growth across every part of the UK.
The resilience action plan, published in July 2025, set out this Government’s strategic approach to building resilience in an increasingly volatile and uncertain world. This transport resilience strategy puts that approach into practice for the transport sector, setting our direction for the next five to 10 years.
The threats and hazards facing our transport system are becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. Its interconnectedness means that disruption in one place can quickly have consequences elsewhere, affirming the importance of building resilience across the system overall. Recent events show that resilience cannot be treated as an optional extra; it is vital to the operations of businesses and transport operators. But resilient infrastructure and robust plans are only part of the answer. While we will continue to embrace automation and advances in digital technology to improve safety and effectiveness, transport remains a people-dependent system. Therefore, it is vital that people within the transport system are equipped with the knowledge, capabilities and tools necessary to keep transport moving. By ensuring that everyone knows their role and how it impacts the continuing resilience of the transport system, and by ensuring that transport users are prepared and armed with the right information, we can reduce the likelihood of disruption and lessen its impact when it occurs.
To help achieve this, the strategy aims to better assess ongoing transport resilience to identify and target areas for improvement, enable the whole system—including transport users—to take action to improve resilience, and strengthen Government resilience capabilities. It makes 22 practical commitments to improve transport resilience, including on the delivery of a new training initiative, the transport resilience academy, and on the establishment of a sector-wide transport resilience network. Through these initiatives, we will strengthen collaboration, connections and systemwide understanding across the transport system, local partners and other sectors, enabling them to share evidence and best practice and address common risks together.
Transport resilience is a whole-Government, whole-sector, and whole-society endeavour. No single organisation can deliver it alone. As the Minister responsible for transport resilience, I am pleased to present a strategy that sets out how we will work together over the coming years to strengthen the resilience of our transport system, protect the connections on which people and businesses depend, and ultimately improve the everyday experience of those who use our networks.
The strategy has been developed with stakeholders from across Government and the transport system. I am grateful to everyone who contributed their experience and evidence. The transport resilience strategy has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and is available on www.gov.uk.
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