Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reasons he decided against change following his review into his Department's check-off system for employees' trade union subscriptions.

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State did not share the views of my rt. hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on this issue.

He also noted advice from the Department that the Department is charged a fixed cost for payroll services based on the number of employees, so there would be no immediate cost saving to the taxpayer in removing the check-off agreement.