Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Conclusion 56
15th Report – Small business strategy
Published 11 Feb 2026
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee Small business strategy All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Gaps in the oversight of franchise agreements allow serious employment abuses to go unaddressed and leave franchisees exposed to unfair contractual practices. The absence of a dedicated regulatory framework, or clear accountability for employment standards within franchise networks is no longer sustainable. (Conclusion, Paragraph 194)
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, 15th Report – Small business strategy (HC 1057), 11 February 2026
Government response
No government response linked yet: deadline 11 April 2026, 204 days ago.