Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions the Best Value Commissioners in Birmingham City Council have had with (a) council officers and (b) the Unite trade union on bin collection industrial action.

Commissioners, who have been appointed to oversee Birmingham City Council’s improvement journey, continue to work constructively with the Council and encourage opportunities to resolve the ongoing waste dispute in a sustainable, meaningful way. There are ongoing and regular discussions. Commissioners are not directly involved in negotiations between the Council and Unite.