There have been a number of recent updates to key pieces of legislation introduced by the Government following their election last summer. These include some notable pledges contained within their 2024 manifesto. These include: GB Energy This week, the Great British Energy Bill has become an official Act of Parliament after receiving Royal Assent, having passed through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The bill which was one of Labour’s flagship General Election policies will see a publicly owned firm, headquartered in Aberdeen, with satellite offices planned in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The state owned company will not supply power to homes but it will invest in new renewable technology. Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Miliband said: “Great British Energy comes from a simple idea: British people should own and benefit from our own natural resources. “We are giving people a stake in clean energy and delivering profits for the British people. As part of our Plan for Change, this will make us a clean energy superpower and help bring down energy bills for good.” The Bill also received legislative consent from all three devolved governments, the first Bill to under this current Parliament, with strategic priorities expected to be set out in the coming weeks. Employment Rights Bill The Employment Rights Bill, another key pledge from the election, is currently at the Committee Stage in the House of Lords having gone through all stages in the House of Commons. The Committee Stage began on 29 April and will continue until the 5 June. The bill will then go through the report stage and the 3rd reading at the House of Lords, further amendments will be considered before finally receiving Royal Assent. Please find a summary to remind you what the bill contains below: Day-One Employment Rights: Workers will gain immediate access to several protections. Unfair Dismissal: Protection from dismissal from the first day of employment, with potential for a statutory probationary period. Parental Leave: Right to Paternity Leave from day one removing any length of service requirements. Statutory Sick Pay: Eligibility from day one. Zero-Hours Contracts Guaranteed Hours: Right to a contract reflecting regularly worked hours over a 12-week period. Shift Changes: Reasonable notice required for shift changes, with compensation for last minute cancellations. Agency Workers: Extension of these rights to agency workers. Fire and Rehire practices: It will be automatically unfair to dismiss workers who refuse to accept new terms and conditions, with limited exceptions for employers facing financial difficulties. Employers will be required to justify refusals of flexible working requests. Statutory sick pay will be payable from the first day of illness. Parental leave rights will be extended and bereavement leave will be introduced from day one. Trade Union rights will be strengthened including easier recognition processes and access to workplaces. A new Fair Work Agency will be established to oversee and enforce employment rights. These reforms are set to take effect from no earlier than Autumn 2026 following consultations and implementation planning. Apprenticeships and Skills England The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act also received Royal Assent on Thursday. This bill abolished the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and transfers its property, rights and liabilities to the Secretary of State for Education and means that several responsibilities, including the Apprenticeship Levy, will fall under the authority of the Secretary of State for Education. This is seen as the first step towards establishing Skills England.