Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to consult relevant parties and stakeholders to define a "reference period" as set out in the Consultation on the application of zero-hours contracts measures to agency workers, updated on 31 October 2024.

The Government consulted on how to apply the zero hours contracts measures in the Employment Rights Bill to agency workers, because of the intricacies of the tripartite employment model between agencies, agency workers and hirers.

We will respond to that consultation in due course, and we will subsequently consult on the details of zero hours contracts measures - including reference periods and hours thresholds - to inform their implementation. The measures are expected to be implemented no sooner than 2026.