Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of employment protections for self-employed parcel delivery drivers; what discussions he has had with parcel delivery companies regarding the transparency of payment structures for delivery drivers; whether he has made an assessment of the extent to which self-employed parcel delivery drivers undertake unpaid work; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms available to parcel delivery drivers; what discussions he has had with the parcel delivery industry regarding working conditions and remuneration models for drivers engaged on a self-employed basis; and whether his Department plans to review employment status, pay practices, and contractor oversight in the parcel delivery sector.

The government expects parcel delivery companies to meet their legal obligations and ensure drivers receive their entitled protections. The Government is also committed to strengthening rights and protections to help the self-employed thrive in good quality self-employment.

We are aware of concerns around payment practices in the parcel delivery sector and are monitoring the emerging practice of dynamic pay generally.

Any individual with a complaint or uncertainty about their rights or employment status can seek advice from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

We intend to consult on the employment status framework in due course.