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Written question asked by Michael Wheeler (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 (named day). It was answered by Kate Dearden (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.

Working Hours

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s consultation document entitled Make Work Pay: ending one-sided flexibility – reforms of zero hours and similar contracts, published on 2 June 2026, how many meetings with businesses his Department had when concluding the Government’s preference is to set the threshold within 8 to 20 hours per week.

Answer

Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with business, trade unions and representative organisations on the zero hours measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025, informing the development of the consultation.

We have held over 13 individual meetings and more than 6 roundtables with businesses on these measures. We have held over 11 individual meetings and more than 4 roundtables with trade unions alongside wider engagement on Make Work Pay. We continue to meet regularly with business representative organisations and trade unions.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
8787
Session
2026-27
Registered interest declared
Yes
Subjects
Working hours
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk