Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the cumulative impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025, increases in employer National Insurance contributions and changes to business rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors on (a) employment levels, (b) youth unemployment, (c) business closures and (d) recruitment activity; and whether he plans to repeal or amend provisions relating to guaranteed hours, unfair dismissal, trade union facility time and statutory flexible working rights.

The Government has published a comprehensive package of analysis on the Employment Rights Act: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK.

This analysis shows that the Act is expected to benefit young workers significantly. The Government remains committed to implementing MWP in full to provide workers with greater security and to boost living standards across the country.

The Government has taken necessary decisions to restore public finances, while protecting smaller businesses. We are also supporting retail, hospitality and leisure sectors via business rate multipliers worth £1bn per year.