Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has a policy on increasing the number of (a) trade unions recognised in workplaces and (b) staff who are members of a trade union in (1) the Civil Service and (2) other sectors.

The government believes that strong trade unions are essential for tackling insecurity, inequality, discrimination and low pay.

Through the Employment Rights Act 2025, we are simplifying the statutory union recognition process, establishing a formal right of access for unions to enter the workplaces, introducing a new duty on employers to inform workers of their right to join a trade union, and strengthening protection from blacklisting.

These reforms will support trade unions to recruit, organise and represent workers across all sectors of the economy, including the Civil Service.