Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with employers on the adequacy of access to bereavement or compassionate leave for employees on zero-hour contracts.

The Government recognises that bereavement can be a deeply upsetting experience. We believe that individuals are best placed to understand their own specific needs and we encourage their employers to respond in an appropriate and sensitive way.

Recognising that the death of a child is particularly tragic, we introduced Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay in April this year.

All employees are also able to take reasonable time off for an emergency involving a dependant. This can be used to deal with some of the practicalities that surround a bereavement, including registering the death, making funeral arrangements and attending the funeral.