Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Local Authorities: Four-day Week

Monday 22 January 2024 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government does not support local authorities implementing a four-day working week for full-time pay.
  • The Government argues that such practices remove capacity to deliver services to residents and are unacceptable.
  • The Government questions the logic of five days' pay and benefits for four days' work, seeking to understand the public's perception of this arrangement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Dowd Lab Bootle
Employment Local Government
Context

The MP is questioning the government's stance on implementing a four-day workweek in local authorities, noting previous statements supporting devolution and full autonomy.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential merits of a four-day working week for local authority employees?

Answer from Simon Hoare

The Government have been crystal clear that we do not support any attempt from local authorities to implement part-time work for full-time pay. Removing capacity to deliver services to residents is not acceptable. The Government have taken steps to deter councils from operating such practices, and we will take further steps if necessary.

Answered
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Q2 Peter Dowd Lab Bootle
Benefits & Welfare Local Government
Context

The MP references the government's earlier support for devolution and raises concerns about threats and bullying tactics to prevent councils from implementing four-day workweeks or other cost-saving measures.

Question

How does the Government's shocking attempts, through threats and bullying tactics, to strangle local council autonomy fit with the laudable aim of full devolution?

Answer from Simon Hoare

If the hon. Gentleman can construct an argument for hard-working families across the country that five days' pay and benefits is commensurate with four days' work a week, I would be interested in hearing it. I invite him in all seriousness to consider the impact on the public's perception of the public sector if it is given out that we can afford to work four days a week but still expect and receive five days' pay.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question about how government actions align with full devolution was not directly addressed. Instead, the answer focused on challenging the premise of the four-day workweek without providing specifics on alignment or policy details.

How: Challenging The Mp'S Argument

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