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 make it his policy to reform section 188 of the Trade Union Act 2016 to allow punitive damage for breach of the duty to consult.

There are clear rules in place requiring companies to consult when making large scale redundancies.

Most companies follow these rules. In the case of P&O Ferries, the Insolvency Service wrote to the Secretary of State for Business on 01 April confirming that following its enquiries it has commenced formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding their recent redundancies.

The Hon. Member will appreciate that while these investigations are being progressed it would not be appropriate to make further comment but the Insolvency Service will provide an update in due course.