Oral Answers to Questions

Beth Winter Excerpts

Monday 6th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

Yes.

[Beth Winter (Cynon Valley) (Lab)]

16 . What assessment he has made of the state of industrial relations within his Department.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mel Stride)]

Constructive discussions take place with the Public and Commercial Services Union, FDA and Prospect unions on a range of topics, as is set out in our employee relations handbook. The PCS and Prospect unions are in dispute with the Department for Work and Pensions, along with a number of other Departments, about various issues. As ever, we will remain positively engaged.

[Beth Winter]

Is the Secretary of State aware that more than a quarter of DWP staff are paid so little that the national living wage floor increase this April will lift their salaries? Is he aware that thousands of civil servants forced to take strike action are going without food and having to use foodbanks? Will he commit to constructive talks with the PCS union to resolve the dispute, to put a real pay rise on the table and to make ending the scourge of low pay in his Department a priority?