Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what was the total cost of facility time to the department in (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26; and what was the headcount number of facility time staff in each; how many were 100% facility time; and whether funding was provided for trade union activities in each of those years.

*2025/26 data shows the total number of representatives that are entitled to facility time, not necessarily representatives that have used facility time.

From 2025/26 Public-sector organisations are no longer required to submit data relating to the use of facility time in their organisation to the Cabinet Office. As a result, this data is not held by DCMS.

Current DCMS policy allows for 30% of paid facility time for trade union duties, for each recognised union, split amongst staff representatives. The total number of staff representatives currently in DCMS that are entitled to facility time is six.

Departments have discretion to provide paid facility time for trade union activities in certain circumstances. Although DCMS does not currently provide paid facility time for trade union activities, this is under review. The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, contains a statutory requirement for employers to provide reasonable paid time off for the undertaking of union duties.