Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications of the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling in the 2017 case of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council v Willetts & Ors for the calculation of holiday pay entitlement for staff in his Department.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office is working closely with our shared services provider (SSCL) to implement a solution. Early indications are that this will take place in Spring 2024.
I have informed the Public and Commercial Services Union that a full response to their letter of 22 August 2023 will be sent in due course.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to reply to the letter of 22 August 2023 from the Public and Commercial Services Union on the ruling in Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council v Willetts & Ors.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office is working closely with our shared services provider (SSCL) to implement a solution. Early indications are that this will take place in Spring 2024.
I have informed the Public and Commercial Services Union that a full response to their letter of 22 August 2023 will be sent in due course.
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 steps he has taken to ensure that the Government Property Agency complies with its public sector equality duty to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed changes to the (a) terms and conditions and (b) general working arrangements on staff with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
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: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency is taking to reduce the potential impact of industrial action on its services.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Sporadic industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union has been targeted at various areas of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA has taken steps to minimise any disruption and the impact on customers has been minimal.
The quickest and easiest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services and motorists are strongly advised to use these services where possible.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Public and Commercial Services Union on (a) remuneration and (b) working conditions for HM Passport Office staff.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
HM Passport Office employees are Home Office employees and part of the Home Office collective bargaining unit. The Home Office engages in annual pay negotiations with its four recognised trade unions, including the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, within the parameters of the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance.
The Cabinet Office are leading on discussions with PCS regarding their Civil Service wide dispute over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Public and Commercial Services Union on the pay, terms and conditions of Passport Office staff.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We are disappointed with the union’s decision to strike after engaging in constructive talks to find a resolution.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent further strike action by civil servants.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The industrial dispute and subsequent strike action with the Public and Commercial Services Union concerns a number of issues including pay. While pay for grades below the Senior Civil Service is determined by individual departments and employers, we continue to engage with all Civil Service Trade Unions regarding cross Civil Service issues which are within the responsibilities of the Cabinet Office in attempting to help achieve a resolution.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union on court backlogs.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Strike action related to the rollout of the Common Platform continues, with Public and Commercial Services mandates in place across 82 Magistrates courts covering 295 legal advisers and court associates.
There have been 33 days of strike action since October 2022. Thanks to the ongoing work of HMCTS, the on-the-day impacts of these strikes have been minimal and well mitigated through case prioritisation, re-listing and use of non-striking staff to cover absences.
Despite the strikes, disposals have remained high. The magistrates’ courts averaged 103,000 disposals per month between January and September 2022. However, October saw 108,500 disposals and November saw 122,700 disposals.
The outstanding caseload in the Magistrates’ Court stood at 337,800 at the end of November 2022, compared to 348,400 the month before.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many court cases have been rescheduled due to industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on the number of cases that are rescheduled due to industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services Union. More general information is published on the number of trial cases that are rearranged on the day of trial (ineffective trials) in the Trial effectiveness at the criminal courts tool by reason and court type.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to reach a negotiated solution to the ongoing industrial dispute with members of the Public and Commercial Services Union.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The industrial dispute with the Public and Commercial Services Union concerns a number of issues including pay. While pay for grades below the Senior Civil Service is determined by individual Departments and employers, we continue to engage with all Civil Service Trade Unions regarding cross Civil Service issues which are within the responsibilities of the Cabinet Office in attempting to help achieve a resolution.