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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to end fire and rehire, following the events at P&O.

The Government has been consistent in condemning the inappropriate use of firing and rehiring tactics during negotiations. As per the Written Statement I made on Tuesday 29 March (HCWS735), the Government will now bring forward statutory code later this year, under section 203 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

The code will be admissible in evidence before a court or Employment Tribunal in England, Scotland and Wales. Where relevant, statutory codes are referred to by employment tribunal judges when deciding the level of award an employee is entitled to. The Government will set out next steps after recess, and will be consulting on the draft code later this year as required by law.