Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Departmental Morale

Monday 20 June 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Barry Sheerman inquired about steps taken to ensure good morale within the Department.
  • The Home Secretary responded with the launch of a five-year plan to deliver an engaged, motivated, and productive workforce.
  • Sheerman highlighted low morale among frontline staff in West Yorkshire, urging the Home Secretary to visit the area.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Barry Sheerman Lab
Standards & Ethics
Context

No specific background details were provided, but the question addresses the general morale of Home Office staff.

Question

What steps she is taking to help ensure good morale within her Department.

Answer from Priti Patel

Home Office staff can be proud of the work that they do to keep our country safe, but also proud of the large amount of operational work that we have just been discussing. The Home Office has launched a five-year plan to deliver an engaged, motivated and productive workforce, which will include new efficiencies, new technology, and ways of helping staff to improve their performance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not provide specific steps or actions being taken to improve morale but instead referenced a five-year plan that includes general measures for improving the workforce.

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Q2 Barry Sheerman Lab
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

The MP noted that morale is very low among these groups due to government cutbacks.

Question

That sounds very impressive until we come to my part of West Yorkshire, where I talk to the police, to probation officers, to prison staff and to firefighters. Their morale is at rock bottom. Whatever the Home Secretary is doing in the Department, will she for goodness' sake get out into the country and meet real people, who are depressed and demoralised by this Government's cutbacks?

Answer from Priti Patel

Can I politely say to the hon. Gentleman that getting out and about the country is not an issue for me? I meet police officers, fire workers, representatives from local councils and local authorities and all the partners we work with, and that cuts across the criminal justice system as well. I also do a great deal of work with victims and others to keep our country safe and deliver vital public services, and it is important that we respect them, support them, empower them and pay tribute to them. I would be very happy to come to the hon. Gentleman's patch and meet some of the people he has referred to.

Not addressed: The MP asked specifically if the Home Secretary will visit West Yorkshire, but she did not directly address this request. Instead, she stated generally that meeting local workers is not an issue for her.

How: Changing Subject, General Statement

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