Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Industrial Action: Support for Public Services

Thursday 11 May 2023 · 4 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Cabinet Office's Cobra unit has supported Departments in developing contingency plans for industrial action.
  • Co-ordinated preparedness activity across Government aims to minimise the impact of industrial action on public services.
  • Labour Members are called upon to encourage union leaders to return to negotiations and support minimum service legislation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Selaine Saxby
NHS Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of industrial actions on public services, especially during critical times when services are needed most.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support public services during industrial action. The Cabinet Office's Cobra unit has supported Departments with developing their contingency plans. We have co-ordinated preparedness activity across Government to minimise the impacts of industrial action on public services, but the only way we can truly avoid disruption is for union leaders to return to the negotiating table and work constructively in order to reach a fair and reasonable deal.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The Cabinet Office's Cobra unit has supported Departments with developing their contingency plans. We have co-ordinated preparedness activity across Government to minimise the impacts of industrial action on public services, but the only way we can truly avoid disruption is for union leaders to return to the negotiating table and work constructively in order to reach a fair and reasonable deal.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to support public services are not detailed

How: Return To The Negotiating Table, Work Constructively

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Q2 Simon Jupp
Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of militant strike actions on daily lives in East Devon and the need for minimum safety levels.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. Militant strike action causes misery for many people in East Devon, who just want to get on with their daily lives. Does my right hon. Friend agree that minimum safety levels are absolutely necessary to mitigate the impact of industrial action?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

As ever, my hon. Friend is totally right. It is completely unacceptable that the people of East Devon can have their lives totally upended by strikes led by militant unions. We of course respect the right to strike, but we have a duty to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British people. That is exactly what this legislation does, and it is a pity that the Labour party will not support it.

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether minimum safety levels are necessary

How: Legislation, Labour Party

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Q3 Selaine Saxby
Employment
Context

The MP believes that union leaders should be called back to the negotiating table and work constructively to resolve disputes.

Question

My North Devon constituents would also like to get on with their daily lives. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be welcome if the Opposition also called on union leaders to get back around the table and work constructively to resolve these disputes?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I have great sympathy with my hon. Friend's constituents. It really is incumbent on Labour Members, given their close relationship with the trade union movement, to encourage union leaders to come back to the table, and to support the minimum service legislation to protect our constituents, rather than kowtowing to their militant union paymasters?

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether Opposition should call on union leaders

How: Labour Members, Militant Union Paymasters

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Q4 Alison Thewliss SNP
Ukraine Economy Employment
Context

The MP spoke to PCS Union workers who are striking due to concerns about the erosion of pay and conditions in their services.

Question

When I spoke to Public and Commercial Services Union workers on the picket line in front of the UK Government building in my Glasgow Central constituency, they told me that they are striking precisely because they want to protect the public services they work in from erosion; to ensure that their colleagues do not see the erosion in pay and conditions that they have seen over many years; and to ensure that they have fair pay and fair wages that they can live on. What is the Minister doing to ensure that they do not have to go out on strike and they can get the fair wage that they deserve?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General has just published the affordability for settlements for civil servants. Remember that this is devolved to each individual Government Department. Of course, I do not dispute for a moment the challenges that people face as a result of the war in Ukraine pushing up inflation around the world, and that is why we have taken action across the board. However, I would say that we cannot allow inflation-busting pay rises, the only effect of which will be to make it harder to meet our target of halving inflation and to make every single person in this country—public and private sector—poorer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address measures to prevent strikes or ensure fair wages

How: Affordability For Settlements, Inflation-Busting Pay Rises

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