Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ban zero-hours contracts.

Zero hours contracts are an important part of the UK’s flexible labour market, for both employers where there is not a constant demand for staff and for individuals who may need to balance work around other commitments such as childcare and study.

The Government is determined to tackle unfair working practices. For example, we have extended the existing ban on exclusivity clauses, which restrict staff from working for multiple employers, to contracts where the guaranteed weekly income is equivalent to or below the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week.

We are also supporting my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool South's Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill, to ensure that workers have the right to request a more predictable working pattern. Qualifying workers would be able to make an application to change their existing contract if it lacks predictability in terms of the hours they are required to work, the times they are required to work, and/or the duration of their contract.