Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants have conditions of employment which impose (a) no and (b) a four day limit on the number of days each week that they can work from home; and whether he has made a comparative assessment of the productivity of those who work from home for four days or more each week and those who do not.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
There is no information available centrally on how many civil servants have conditions of employment that impose no, and a four day limit on the number of days each week they can work from home. Decisions on terms and conditions of employment are made by the employing department, depending on their specific business requirements and nature of the role. Where business requirements allow for it, departments will operate flexible working arrangements.
Civil servants are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office with decisions on implementing and evaluating this expectation made by departments. A small number of home working contracts are in place but these are not routinely approved other than for a very small number of roles, or where a workplace adjustment is agreed for conditions recognised under the Equality Act. Equally, there are also employees who work only from the workplace, due to the nature of their roles, or through personal choice.
There have been no specific central comparative assessments within the civil service of productivity of those who work from home for four days or more each week. It is recognised within departments that there are clear benefits of face-to-face working, including productivity, with complex tasks and problem solving undertaken more efficiently.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the retendering of Facilities Management contracts in the Mitie Affiliate Cluster, what recent meetings he has held with (a) the Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service, (b) the Chief Executive of the Government Property Agency and (c) civil service trade unions.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Employment Terms and Conditions are a matter for Employers and their Employees.
However, the Government Property Agency (GPA) has supported the employee representatives, notably the PCS Trade Union, in discussions with the GPA's new suppliers. All suppliers have listened to the concerns expressed by the PCS trade union and have provided both assurance and solutions to ensure that any affected member of staff is not directly or indirectly affected by the change of their employer. This includes financial assistance via ex gratia payments and interest-free loans and advice and support to mitigate against issues surrounding the claiming of "in work" benefits.
The GPA is committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination. Throughout the workplace services transformation programme the GPA has continued to give PSED due consideration and will continue the completion of the impact assessment following the recent award of contracts. This will be shared with trade unions upon completion. The successful bidders have been tested for this requirement at Framework creation stage and will be required to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the Equalities Act 2010 and the GPA’s aspirations during delivery of the contract.
Whilst the GPA has an active interest in the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) transfer of supplier employees, TUPE transfers are a matter for both the outgoing and incoming contractors and both the outgoing and incoming suppliers are experienced in this area. The employee rights are set out by the TUPE regulations and reinforced in the Crown Commercial Services framework which this contract is let on. The Government Property Agency will act upon any breach of this legislation if it occurs and holds its supply chain to the legislative requirements. The GPA continues to encourage both their current and their new suppliers to exchange information quickly to enable consultations to be effective and to resolve queries quickly where they arise.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to ensure that all Government contracts include a requirement to pay staff (a) the Living Wage Foundation’s real Living Wage and (b) occupational sick pay.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
This government is committed to paying properly, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. This is based on the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission. In April 2023, the National Living Wage increased to £10.42 per hour, an increase of 9.7%. By 2024, the Government has committed that the National Living Wage will reach 66% of median UK earnings.
Departments are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of employment for their civil servants, in accordance with the rules of the Civil Service Management Code. This includes matters related to sickness absence.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) increase employment and (b) protect jobs in surface fleet maintenance support at His Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) programme is in its pre-concept stage with plans yet to be matured. No contracts have been tendered or awarded.
NSIGN will be fundamental to safeguarding the future of His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth and those at Clyde and Devonport. Maintaining our duty to protect Royal Navy operations and ensuring defence is delivered as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
A key requirement for the NSIGN programme will be workforce capability and capacity. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will seek to ensure there is scope to provide improved opportunities for integration, training and conditions across the entire maritime enterprise including the military, civil service and industrial workforce. Service providers under NSIGN will require personnel with similar skills and experience to those currently employed. The MOD will protect the existing workforce by requiring service providers to meet their legal obligations under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations and by ensuring an orderly transition from the present Future Maritime Support Programme.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help support His Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth, in transitioning from the Future Maritime Support Programme to the Naval Support Integrated Global Network surface fleet maintenance support.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) programme is in its pre-concept stage with plans yet to be matured. No contracts have been tendered or awarded.
NSIGN will be fundamental to safeguarding the future of His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth and those at Clyde and Devonport. Maintaining our duty to protect Royal Navy operations and ensuring defence is delivered as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
A key requirement for the NSIGN programme will be workforce capability and capacity. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will seek to ensure there is scope to provide improved opportunities for integration, training and conditions across the entire maritime enterprise including the military, civil service and industrial workforce. Service providers under NSIGN will require personnel with similar skills and experience to those currently employed. The MOD will protect the existing workforce by requiring service providers to meet their legal obligations under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations and by ensuring an orderly transition from the present Future Maritime Support Programme.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the impact of surface fleet maintenance support contracts tendered under the Naval Support Integrated Global Network on employees of His Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) programme is in its pre-concept stage with plans yet to be matured. No contracts have been tendered or awarded.
NSIGN will be fundamental to safeguarding the future of His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth and those at Clyde and Devonport. Maintaining our duty to protect Royal Navy operations and ensuring defence is delivered as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
A key requirement for the NSIGN programme will be workforce capability and capacity. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will seek to ensure there is scope to provide improved opportunities for integration, training and conditions across the entire maritime enterprise including the military, civil service and industrial workforce. Service providers under NSIGN will require personnel with similar skills and experience to those currently employed. The MOD will protect the existing workforce by requiring service providers to meet their legal obligations under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations and by ensuring an orderly transition from the present Future Maritime Support Programme.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the policy paper entitled Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper, published on 15 March 2023, whether his Department is taking steps to consult with disabled people on the development of the jobcentre design guide.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The department is committed to improving access and inclusion for colleagues and members of the public through the on-going development of its Jobcentre design guides. The design guides provide the standards for future properties and major refurbishments of existing sites. In 2021/22, the department commissioned the Civil Service Policy Lab to explore best practice in Jobcentre design for disabled people and those with health conditions.
Policy Lab were set up in 2014 to support the Civil Service with specialist expertise to help understand the present, imagine the future, and design ways to achieve the intended policy impact.
The aim of the project was to work with experts, staff, and disabled people, to develop recommendations for inclusive design to inform future guidance for Jobcentres.
Research included working closely with participants, to better understand their personal ‘lived experiences’. This included in-depth interviews to understand their individual health condition and relationship with the local Jobcentre. The research included an immersive, sensory mapping approach, where the researchers’ joined participants on their journeys to the Jobcentre and around the buildings.
Supporting this work, the department also commission a specialist access and inclusion consultant, with property expertise, to oversee changes to guidance. The scope includes improving environments for more people by considering the latest guidance on neurodiversity.
Findings and insights from the research are informing the department’s new design guide for Jobcentres. This guidance is currently under development with the in-house design team. Trials will follow on several sites, which will include detailed customer evaluation of all the agreed deliverables. Stakeholder groups will also be involved in finalising this inclusive design guidance.
This work forms part of a wider programme of work the department is undertaking to look at, and continue to improve, employment support for disabled people.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 902659 on Prison officers: retirement, and to the Answer of 19 December 2022 to Question 110664 on Cabinet Office: Transfer of Questions, which Department leads on Government policy relating to prison officer pension age.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
HM Treasury leads on all public sector pension scheme policy making and sets clear parameters within which pension scheme rules must be set, including the pension age for public servants.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for making the Civil Service pension scheme regulations. This pension scheme covers the overwhelming majority of civil servants in active service, including prison officers, and must be delivered within the wider HM Treasury policies.
Finally, the Ministry of Justice leads on local policy relating to prison officer terms and conditions. It may consider utilising employment, retirement and pension flexibilities for particular groups, if affordable and as they deem appropriate.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether staff employed by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (a) have the same terms and conditions of employment as staff employed directly by his Department and (b) are able to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Answered by Jonathan Gullis
Staff employed by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator have different terms and conditions of employment from staff employed by the department. They are not able to join the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether staff employed by Oak National Academy (a) enjoy the same terms and conditions of employment as staff employed directly by his Department, and (b) are able to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Staff employed by Oak National Academy have different terms and conditions of employment from staff employed directly by the department, and are not currently able to join the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.