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Pay: Recruitment

Asked by Douglas McAllisterLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 2 March 2026UIN 114136

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the introduction of a salary history ban preventing employers from asking about previous salaries during recruitment processes.

Answered by Kate Dearden

The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination.

As part of the 2025 Equality law call for evidence, the Office for Equality and Opportunity sought information about best practices already used by some employers, research from academics and the experience of other countries when it comes to pay transparency measures. Responses to the call for evidence will help us to understand how increased pay transparency may impact women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, and other groups in the workplace.

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