Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the Prime Minister’s discussions with trade unions in January regarding industrial action, what further engagement they have had with trade unions across all sectors to prevent any further industrial action.

Ministers across Government have been meeting with the trade unions to attempt to resolve these disputes where it is possible to do so and, crucially, where it is affordable to the taxpayer.

We’ve been clear throughout that we must strike the right balance on what is affordable and realise where compromises must be made.

We are actively engaging with the unions to try and facilitate fair compromises to resolve these disputes – including through service reform, productivity and efficiency – and we remain happy to listen to their concerns.

Since January, the Government has negotiated with the Agenda for Change workforce, entering into a process of intensive talks to find a fair and reasonable settlement. The majority of AfC unions have now voted to accept that offer.

The Government and the education trade unions have entered intensive talks, focusing on teacher pay, conditions and workload reduction. There have also been discussions with unions representing the civil service and with the RMT and the British Medical Association.

We are determined to find a way through this. We are grateful for the talks we have had so far and we remain happy to listen to the concerns of unions and their members.