Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Civil Service: National Pay Bargaining Units

Thursday 25 July 2024 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jeremy Corbyn asked the Minister whether he plans to consolidate the number of national pay bargaining units in the civil service.
  • Mary Glindon noted that in 14 years, the Tory Government did not address the issue of over 200 pay bargaining units for civil servants, calling it time-consuming and inefficient.
  • Jeremy Corbyn thanked the Minister for his reply and asked for assurance that progress will be made towards a return to full sectoral bargaining to cover civil servants not currently under a pay review body.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Islington North
Employment Parliamentary Procedure
Context

Corbyn is concerned about the fragmented system of pay bargaining units, which he believes hinders efficiency and fairness.

Question

Whether he plans to take steps to consolidate the number of national pay bargaining units in the civil service. In 14 years, the Tory Government did nothing to tackle the situation with over 200 pay bargaining units for civil servants across all Government Departments and agencies, a highly time-consuming and inefficient process that generates unfair pay disparities between people doing near-identical jobs in different Government offices.

Answer from Pat McFadden

Yesterday, I met the civil service unions together with the new Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Queen's Park and Maida Vale (Georgia Gould). We had a very positive discussion covering a whole range of issues. I made it clear that the days of Government Ministers waging culture wars against civil servants are over. Instead, we want a civil service that is motivated, valued and helps the Government to deliver their priorities. On the specific issue of pay, the Government will have more to say on civil service pay before the summer recess.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide any concrete plans or timelines for consolidating pay bargaining units.

How: We Want A Civil Service That Is Motivated, Valued And Helps The Government To Deliver Their Priorities

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Q2 Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Employment Standards & Ethics
Context

Glindon highlights a long-standing issue where there are over 200 pay bargaining units across Government Departments, leading to inefficiency and unfair pay disparities.

Question

In 14 years, the Tory Government did nothing to tackle the ludicrous situation whereby there are over 200 pay bargaining units for civil servants across all Government Departments and agencies, a highly time-consuming and inefficient process that generates unfair pay disparities between people doing near-identical jobs in different Government offices. Will the Minister take this opportunity to look again at whether pay bargaining can be consolidated across the civil service, and will he agree to meet the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss the advantages of such reforms?

Answer from Pat McFadden

We do value civil servants, and of course we want all public servants to be properly and fairly rewarded. As with any public expenditure, what is spent on pay has to be balanced against other priorities and fair to taxpayers as a whole. On meeting the PCS, yesterday, I met the general secretary of the PCS, as well as other civil service unions. I hope for a fruitful dialogue with them. Departments do have flexibility on pay. They can direct pay towards the needs of their own workforces.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to specific actions or timelines for consolidating pay bargaining units, and he did not provide detailed information about future meetings with PCS.

How: Departments Do Have Flexibility On Pay. They Can Direct Pay Towards The Needs Of Their Own Workforces

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Q3 Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Islington North
Employment
Context

Corbyn is concerned about the fragmented system where many thousands of civil servants are not covered by any bargaining mechanism, leading to inefficiency and inequality.

Question

I thank the Minister for the reply he has just given. Will he assure the House that he is going to make progress towards a return to full sectoral bargaining? He must be aware that many thousands of civil servants are not covered by a pay review body or any other bargaining mechanism. Will he take steps to ensure that all civil servants are bought within the purview of a pay review body bargaining unit as part of a return to sectoral bargaining?

Answer from Pat McFadden

I thank the right hon. Member for his question. I hope to have a good and fruitful dialogue with the civil service unions about pay and many other issues. It is important that we have public servants who feel valued and motivated, and who do their part on delivering the Government's objectives.

Not addressed: The Minister did not address the specific ask regarding progress towards full sectoral bargaining or ensuring coverage of all civil servants by a bargaining mechanism.

How: I Hope To Have A Good And Fruitful Dialogue With The Civil Service Unions About Pay And Many Other Issues

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