Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will confirm the date when the turnout requirement of at least 50% will be replaced by a simple majority vote for industrial action ballots.

To commence section 68 (turnout threshold) of the Employment Rights Act and repeal the 50% threshold, the government must lay a statement in Parliament setting out how it has had regard to the effect of e-balloting (or other non-postal balloting) on participation rates in industrial action ballots.

We are working towards delivering electronic balloting in August 2026. The subsequent review of the impact of e-balloting on participation rates will take place following this, before the repeal of the 50% threshold.