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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to his oral contribution of 6 March 2019, Official Report, column 994, on the Swedish derogation, what representations he has received on the timing of the abolition of the Swedish derogation; and when he plans to respond to those representations.

The Government is committed to upgrading workers’ rights as we leave the EU, not reduce them. The Good Work Plan represents a large part of this commitment and is the biggest upgrade in a generation. The Department regularly engages with stakeholders on the reforms announced in the Good Work Plan. Secondary legislation repealing the Swedish Derogation was laid on 17 December 2018 and approved by the House of Commons’ Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee on 6 March 2019. Subject to approval from the House of Lords, all agency workers will be entitled to the same pay as permanent staff after 12 weeks in an assignment from 6 April 2020. This will allow time for businesses to realign their contractual arrangements, both with their workers and the end hirers.