Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2018 to Question 149681 on Unpaid Work, when his Department plans to publish guidance for people who have undertaken unpaid work trials.

The Government is clear that exploitative unpaid work trials are unacceptable, and will take action against employers misusing them. HM Revenue and Customers respond to 100% of worker complaints received.

Short unpaid work trials may be acceptable when they are part of a genuine recruitment exercise. On 13 June I met trade unions, employers and lawyers to seek views on a draft of new Government guidance on this subject. The Government plans to come forward with further detail shortly.