In general, employment law (for example through the Employment Rights Act 1996) provides protection to \u2018employees\u2019 or \u2018workers\u2019. Many volunteers are not employees or workers, and so do not have the same legal status and protections as paid employees or workers. However, depending on the details of the volunteering arrangement, it is possible for volunteers to be workers in some cases. Some guidance on the definition of a worker is provided on the gov.uk website..<\/p>
<\/p>
The government has consulted on whether volunteers are adequately protected by the protections within the Equality Act 2010, and responses to that consultation are currently being considered.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is also working with charities and the charity regulator to encourage safe cultures within charities that protect volunteers.<\/p>
<\/p>
The gov.uk website explains what rights a volunteer may have.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T15:44:29.563Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Voluntary Work: Conditions of Employment"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend employment legislation to give volunteers in voluntary organisations the same protection rights as those available to paid employees.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1138", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Carlile of Berriew"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Carlile of Berriew"} ], "uin" : "HL17904"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146945", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146945/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Companies involved in the civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent regulators. In March this year, the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales jointly published guidance on how the Meteorological Office\u2019s 2018 climate projections should be taken into account. It is for the regulated entities to plan for changes in sea-level and to demonstrate to regulators that their plans are adequate.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T15:43:32.27Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hinkley Point C Power Station: Sea Level"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the projected sea level rise around the site of the new Hinkley Point nuclear power plant; and how this assessment varies from projections in 2009.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4297", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb"} ], "uin" : "HL17919"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146946", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146946/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the noble Baroness.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T16:55:12.73Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sea Level: Forecasts"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their projections of sea level rises around the UK coast have been updated to reflect the findings of the Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, approved on 24 September.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4297", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb"} ], "uin" : "HL17920"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146947", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146947/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) have been produced by the Met Office as part of the Hadley Centre climate programme, co -funded by BEIS and Defra. The Office for Nuclear Regulation does not produce its own projections for sea level rise and considers that the use of the UKCP18 is relevant good practice in determining climate change allowances for applicable natural hazards at GB licensed sites.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T11:35:17.88Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sea Level: Forecasts"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what differences exist between the projections of sea level rises by (1) the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and (2) the Met Office; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for any such differences.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4297", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb"} ], "uin" : "HL17921"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146953", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146953/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy represents the UK at the Universal Postal Union\u2019s (UPU) Council of Administration. It attended the UPU Extraordinary Congress in September 2019 where an agreement on international remuneration rates for bulky letters and small packets was reached. Under this agreement most countries will move onto a single rate system in 2020.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T15:42:55.15Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Postal Union"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government who represents the UK at the Universal Postal Union; which organisation any such representative is part of; and what steps, if any, they intend to take in regard to the current level of charges for postal packets from China to the UK.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1879", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lucas"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Lucas"} ], "uin" : "HL17927"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146961", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146961/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the noble Lord.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-08T16:55:20.62Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Companies: Carbon Emissions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to introduce penalties for UK companies that do not achieve the 2050 targets set out in the Paris Agreement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"} ], "uin" : "HL17935"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146979", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146979/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Generation capacity information for GB can be located on the TEC Register on the National Grid ESO website at https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/149106/download<\/a><\/p> <\/p> Decommissioning decisions are a commercial matter for the company concerned.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4134", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Spelthorne"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kwasi Kwarteng"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "292285"}
, {"_value" : "292286"}
, {"_value" : "292287"}
, {"_value" : "292288"}
, {"_value" : "292289"}
, {"_value" : "292290"}
, {"_value" : "292291"}
, {"_value" : "292292"}
, {"_value" : "292293"}
, {"_value" : "292294"}
, {"_value" : "292295"}
, {"_value" : "292296"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-02T16:12:50.16Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Keadby Power Station"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date is of Keadby Natural Gas Power Station.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4470", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alan Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kilmarnock and Loudoun"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alan Brown"}
], "uin" : "292284"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146980", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146980/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Generation capacity information for GB can be located on the TEC Register on the National Grid ESO website at https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/149106/download<\/a><\/p> <\/p> Decommissioning decisions are a commercial matter for the company concerned.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4134", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Spelthorne"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kwasi Kwarteng"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "292284"}
, {"_value" : "292286"}
, {"_value" : "292287"}
, {"_value" : "292288"}
, {"_value" : "292289"}
, {"_value" : "292290"}
, {"_value" : "292291"}
, {"_value" : "292292"}
, {"_value" : "292293"}
, {"_value" : "292294"}
, {"_value" : "292295"}
, {"_value" : "292296"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-02T16:12:50.223Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Damhead Creek Power Station"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date is of Damhead Creek Natural Gas Power Station.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4470", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alan Brown"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kilmarnock and Loudoun"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alan Brown"}
], "uin" : "292285"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146981", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1146981/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "