Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory right to time off for necessary medical appointments for (a) disabled employees and (b) employees with long-term health conditions.

The government is committed to helping working people balance their jobs with their personal lives, including those managing disabilities and long-term health conditions. The Keep Britain Working Vanguard is focused on testing voluntary employer action, so a statutory right is not currently in scope. We will engage with unions, Disabled People’s Organisations and people with lived experience as solutions develop, to ensure the system is fair and works for everyone. Where a disability is covered by the Equality Act 2010, employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments, which may include flexibility to attend medical appointments.