VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Industrial Action: Deductions

Asked by Abtisam MohamedLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 16 July 2026UIN 18262

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will commit to making regulations under section 76(1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 to prohibit employers from making 100% wage deductions where the partial performance in question constitutes protected industrial action.

Answered by Blair McDougall

The government response to the consultation on Protection against Detriments for Taking Industrial Action, published 23 June 2026, states that the government does not plan to change the common law rules allowing pay deductions for industrial action, including partial performance. This is an area of law continuing to develop in the courts.

The draft Protection Against Detriment (Industrial Action) Regulations 2026, to be made under section 236A Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, prohibiting the use of detriments to penalise or deter protected industrial action, were laid in Parliament on 24 June 2026 and are consistent with this position.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim