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Environment Protection: Trade Union Officials

Asked by Hannah SpencerGreen PartyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 26875

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department supports legal recognition and workplace rights for public sector union representatives carrying out the role of ‘Environmental Representatives’.

Answered by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

The Employment Rights Act 2025 strengthened rights to reasonable paid time off for trade union representatives and introduced a new statutory right to reasonable paid time off for trade union equality representatives.

While there is no separate statutory framework for public sector union representatives carrying out the role of environmental representatives, those who are also trade union representatives, may benefit from these statutory rights.

The Government has no current plans to introduce a separate statutory framework for workplace environmental representatives.

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