Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Government Departments and Agencies: Facilities Management Services

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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government will secure value for money in meeting facilities management requirements.
  • Decisions on outsourcing will be based on social value, service quality, and outcomes.
  • The Government plans to ensure jobs are secure, fulfilling, and well-paid.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Employment Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about the number of facilities management services outsourced by government departments, which affects workforce conditions and value for money.

Question

Whether he plans to increase the number of facilities management services that are insourced within Government Departments and agencies. The outsourcing of facility management services roles such as cleaning, catering and security has disproportionately impacted women and black workers, who have suffered a reduction in their pay, terms and conditions. With this situation, will the Minister agree to examine the benefits of insourcing facilities management services particularly with regard to performance and tackling discriminatory outcomes on pay?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

The Government will secure value for money in meeting their facilities management requirements. Decisions on outsourcing will be based on robust assessments of social value, service quality, and delivering the best outcomes. The new deal for working people will ensure that jobs are secure, fulfilling and well-paid. We would also introduce an equality Bill to enshrine the right to equal pay for ethnic minorities and disabled people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask regarding meeting representatives of PCSU was not addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Jon Trickett Lab Normanton and Hemsworth
Employment
Context

The MP welcomes the team to the Front Bench and highlights issues with outsourcing, such as driving down pay and conditions for workers.

Question

I thank the Minister very much for her response. The problem with outsourcing is that outsourcers will drive down pay and conditions for the workforce, creating a two-tier workforce; they are not properly accountable to Ministers; and finally, there is the question of public service centres. Will the Minister confirm that we will proceed with abandoning the previous Government's ideological obsession with outsourcing?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

Too many decisions about outsourcing under the previous Government were ideologically driven without considering social value or service quality. We will do things differently, focusing on social value and outcomes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for confirmation regarding abandoning the ideological approach to outsourcing was not directly confirmed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of outsourcing on women and black workers, with a reduction in pay and terms.

Question

The outsourcing of facility management services roles such as cleaning, catering and security has disproportionately impacted women and black workers. The Government have promised to bring about the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation. With this promise, will the Minister agree to examine the benefits of insourcing facilities management services, particularly with regard to performance and tackling discriminatory outcomes on pay? Will she meet representatives of the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss this matter further?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

Under the previous Government, too many jobs such as cleaning and security were insecure with a race to the bottom on standards and pay. Our plan will ensure all jobs are secure, fulfilling and well-paid. We would introduce an equality Bill to enshrine equal pay for ethnic minorities and disabled people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting PCSU representatives was not addressed directly.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)