Public and Commercial Services Union

(asked on 11th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Public and Commercial Services Union on safety concerns raised on covid-19.


Answered by
Alex Chalk Portrait
Alex Chalk
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
This question was answered on 19th March 2021

From the outset of the pandemic, my senior officials have engaged extensively at a national level with the Departmental Trade Union Side (DTUS), which includes the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), consulting on policies and processes necessary to make the estate safe, and to maintain access to justice for those who need it. This collaboration, alongside engagement with Public Health agencies, representatives of those using the justice system and others, has helped the department to ensure its ways of working are as safe and effective as possible.

Regular dedicated Health and Safety meetings have continued to ensure that there is active communication and consultation between employees, the DTUS, judiciary, contractors and other stakeholders in respect of security, health and safety procedures and responsibilities.

Since the first lockdown in March 2020, my senior officials have scheduled an extensive programme of meetings with the DTUS to ensure safety concerns are properly considered and addressed. This has included, not only dedicated weekly DTUS Covid-19 meetings and regular scheduled meetings with senior leaders, including the HMCTS CEO, the Chief People Officer, HMPPS Director General and the Permanent Secretary, but also a series of business-specific DTUS meetings with the appropriate Directors to discuss Human Resource policy issues and operational changes necessary to ensure safety.

Wherever possible, joint risk assessments are conducted with trade union Health and Safety representatives and, in addition, my senior officials at a regional level have continued to hold regular meetings with regional trade union representatives, where safety and security matters are raised and discussed.

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