Many employment rights have been created by legislation. Some of these rights are contained in primary legislation, that is, Acts of Parliament. Others are set out in secondary legislation - regulations or 'statutory instruments' made by a Government minister under powers given to the minister by an Act of Parliament. The right to claim unfair dismissal, for example, is set out in the Employment Rights Act 1996, whereas the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, a statutory instrument made under the European Communities Act 1972, protects the rights of employees affected by business transfers.
The legislation that the Government plans to introduce will usually have been heralded in broad outline in its General Election manifesto. Whether, when and how that legislation reaches the statute book depends on the vagaries of political life, domestic and world events and pressures on the Parliamentary timetable. The Government announces its legislative programme for a particular session of Parliament in the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament, which usually happens in November.
The present Government's policy is to consult on legislative proposals (consultation on legislation) before introducing them into Parliament (the parliamentary process).