Oral QuestionDepartment for Business and Trade

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 5 March 2026Answered: 12 March 2026

Asked by

Tracy Gilbert

LabourEdinburgh North and Leith

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Business and Trade

Answer from Hansard

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kate Dearden)

I thank my hon. Friend for her work in this area. The Government believe that trade unions are absolutely essential for tackling insecurity, inequality, discrimination, enforcement and low pay. We are providing a legal framework for businesses and unions to negotiate access to the workplace. We recognise that for the framework to effectively facilitate that access, it has to be supported. That is why we are consulting on this. Officials are reviewing those responses, and we will publish a response in due course.