Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with which trade unions her Department has had discussions on legislative proposals relating to employment since she became Secretary of State.

The Government is supporting six Private Members Bills to increase workforce participation, protect vulnerable workers, and level the playing field, ensuring unscrupulous businesses do not have a competitive advantage. Relevant trade unions were consulted prior to and throughout the development of these reforms.

The Government regularly discusses legislative proposals with the trade unions and has recently engaged with unions on the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which is currently progressing through the House of Lords.

I recently met with Trades Union Congress, and the Secretary of State is also scheduled to meet with the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress in April to discuss shared interests.