Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2019 to Question 292944 on Cabinet Office: Ethnic Groups, whether his Department has since collected equality data on promotions in his Department.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Cabinet Office employment practices are in compliance with the monitoring requirements set out in the EHRC Statutory code of practice of employment. All permanent external recruitment within the Cabinet Office is based on the Civil Service recruitment principles which is done on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition. The information on promotions is not held centrally.
The Crown is the legal employer of civil servants but, practically, as a result of delegation, the employment relationship for all civil servants is with their department or agency.
Government departments have delegated authority to set pay arrangements to allow them to put in place reward arrangements for civil servants that best suit their business needs.
The Government will always award contracts on the basis of value for money for the taxpayer. Employers must pay at least the National Minimum Wage, or the National Living Wage for workers over 25.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of staff who applied for promotion opportunities run by the Government Recruitment Service between 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020 and who identified as (a) BAME and (b) White were successful by each grade; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Cabinet Office employment practices are in compliance with the monitoring requirements set out in the EHRC Statutory code of practice of employment. All permanent external recruitment within the Cabinet Office is based on the Civil Service recruitment principles which is done on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition. The information on promotions is not held centrally.
The Crown is the legal employer of civil servants but, practically, as a result of delegation, the employment relationship for all civil servants is with their department or agency.
Government departments have delegated authority to set pay arrangements to allow them to put in place reward arrangements for civil servants that best suit their business needs.
The Government will always award contracts on the basis of value for money for the taxpayer. Employers must pay at least the National Minimum Wage, or the National Living Wage for workers over 25.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what risk assessment has been undertaken by the Government Property Agency on the requirement for externally-contracted support staff to return to work in multi-hub office locations; and if he will publish that risk assessment.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Government advice and guidance is clear that people should work from home wherever possible to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Advice has been provided to departments on how to support all workers performing roles which require them to be in the workplace, in line with the government guidance on safer working during COVID-19. Assessments are being completed in line with relevant guidance.
The Government Property Agency is working with contractors to promote social distancing and to seek assurance from contractors that necessary mitigating measures are taken to manage identified risks, including in respect of PPE.
Staff - including ethnic minority individuals - are supported based on their particular circumstances and have the right to challenge a proposed return to the workplace if they have concerns. Contractors are completing individual discussions with staff that are deemed to be at greater risk, including where relevant BAME colleagues or those with declared underlying health conditions.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government Property Agency has made of the disproportionate effect on BAME employees of contracting covid-19 in requiring externally-contracted support staff return to work in multi-hub office locations.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Government advice and guidance is clear that people should work from home wherever possible to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Advice has been provided to departments on how to support all workers performing roles which require them to be in the workplace, in line with the government guidance on safer working during COVID-19. Assessments are being completed in line with relevant guidance.
The Government Property Agency is working with contractors to promote social distancing and to seek assurance from contractors that necessary mitigating measures are taken to manage identified risks, including in respect of PPE.
Staff - including ethnic minority individuals - are supported based on their particular circumstances and have the right to challenge a proposed return to the workplace if they have concerns. Contractors are completing individual discussions with staff that are deemed to be at greater risk, including where relevant BAME colleagues or those with declared underlying health conditions.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps have been taken by the Government Property Agency to ensure that externally-contracted support staff in multi-hub office locations have access to personal protective equipment.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Government advice and guidance is clear that people should work from home wherever possible to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Advice has been provided to departments on how to support all workers performing roles which require them to be in the workplace, in line with the government guidance on safer working during COVID-19. Assessments are being completed in line with relevant guidance.
The Government Property Agency is working with contractors to promote social distancing and to seek assurance from contractors that necessary mitigating measures are taken to manage identified risks, including in respect of PPE.
Staff - including ethnic minority individuals - are supported based on their particular circumstances and have the right to challenge a proposed return to the workplace if they have concerns. Contractors are completing individual discussions with staff that are deemed to be at greater risk, including where relevant BAME colleagues or those with declared underlying health conditions.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government Property Agency is taking to ensure that externally-contracted support staff in multi-hub office locations have access to personal protective equipment.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Government advice and guidance is clear that people should work from home wherever possible to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Advice has been provided to departments on how to support all workers performing roles which require them to be in the workplace, in line with the government guidance on safer working during COVID-19. Assessments are being completed in line with relevant guidance.
The Government Property Agency is working with contractors to promote social distancing and to seek assurance from contractors that necessary mitigating measures are taken to manage identified risks, including in respect of PPE.
Staff - including ethnic minority individuals - are supported based on their particular circumstances and have the right to challenge a proposed return to the workplace if they have concerns. Contractors are completing individual discussions with staff that are deemed to be at greater risk, including where relevant BAME colleagues or those with declared underlying health conditions.