The regulatory policy committee (RPC), which the government appointed in July to scrutinise progress towards cutting £10bn of red tape this parliament, criticised the initial costings of proposed changes to the law, designed to make it harder for workers to strike.

The RPC said the government had been too hasty in pushing through its proposals, which were first set out in the Conservative party manifesto ahead of the general election, and called on it to undertake further consultations.