Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in respect of guaranteed hours provisions what assessment has been made of the potential impact of a 12 week reference period on employers whose staffing needs vary significantly over the year.

The Department has published a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the zero hours contract measures and will publish further analysis in due course.

The government has also now published its consultation. The government has stated a preference for a 12-week initial reference period, to provide timely access to guaranteed hours as well as sufficient time to establish a representative sample of working hours.

We recognise that some employers experience seasonal or fluctuating demand. The legislation includes flexibility to address these circumstances, such as using limited-term contracts for genuinely temporary work, depending on the needs of the business.