Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps their Department takes to comply with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; and if they will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
There is a range of HR information which is published on GOV.UK and therefore publicly available:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-trade
In addition, the Department for International Trade, now the Department for Business and Trade, meets regularly with their recognised Trade Unions and presents and shares a range of information and data where it is appropriate and in line with privacy statements. This helps inform decision making through negotiation, engagement and consultation as appropriate.
This department is therefore complying with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and we always seek to work constructively with trade unions.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) have also provided a similar response to confirm that UKEF is therefore complying with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if they will take steps to (a) publish an equality impact assessment and (b) consult with trade unions when proposing new HR policies for their Department; and if they will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance (UKEF) conduct Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) as part of internal process where there is anticipated to be a people-related impact of change to policy, process, or organisational design. These are conducted through engagement with departmental networks and Trade Unions. EQIA documentation is for internal use and therefore is not routinely published.
As part of internal processes, DIT and UKEF both consult with Departmental Trade Unions when introducing new policies or incorporating major changes to existing policies and guidance.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has notified staff to (a) tell or (b) remind them that they can sell annual leave in the last four months.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department does not currently operate a policy which enables staff to sell annual leave. The Department has not notified staff to (a) tell or (b) remind them that they can sell annual leave in the last four months.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure her Department complies with section 2.1.6 of the Civil Service Management Code; and whether that monitoring data gathered is shared with union representatives.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today, UIN 128655.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure her Department complies with section 2.1.6 of the Civil Service Management Code; and whether that monitoring data gathered is shared with union representatives.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) routinely captures and monitors personal information as specified in section 2.1.6 of the Civil Service Management Code from candidates and staff to ensure best practice and legal compliance. DIT uses Equality Impact Assessments to examine the impacts of policies and processes on the Department’s workforce and take action to mitigate against any unintended impacts.
The data gathered is shared with trade union representatives where appropriate. Detailed information on the Civil Service workforce is collected and published centrally as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment Statistics and can be found on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what human resources information their Department shares with trade unions on a regular basis.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for International Trade regularly shares information with the recognised departmental trade unions where appropriate and that supports union representatives in carrying out their responsibilities under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. This includes details on pay, terms and conditions and other human resource policies, as well as information regarding employee experience initiatives and other organisational transformation or change which is shared as part of regular trade union engagement.
In addition, a range of information regarding the departmental workforce is available publicly on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department complies with the requirement set out in section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management Code that time off with pay for safety representatives will not be set against facility time allowed under existing arrangements.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Government recognises there are significant benefits to both employers and employees when organisations and unions work together effectively to deliver high quality public services, but facility time within the public sector must be accountable and represent value for money.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has an obligation to provide reasonable paid time off to recognised trade union representatives to undertake trade union duties. This includes paid time off for safety representatives as set out in section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management Code. This is also referenced in the internal Industrial Relations Policy, which is accessible to staff.
DIT also publishes information relating to facility time for recognised trade union representatives at Gov.uk.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation affects the right of recognised unions in her Department to bargaining information as set out in Section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Department for International Trade (DIT) works closely with our recognised Trade Unions and values the benefit of these effective working relationships in delivering the department’s objectives.
General Data Protection Regulation has not affected the rights of unions in DIT to bargaining information provided under section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a suspension of arms sales to Turkey as a result of Turkish operations in northern Syria; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government continues to monitor the situation in Syria very closely and is considering the licensing position in the light of recent developments. No further export licences to Turkey for items which might be used in military operations in Syria will be granted while we do so.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the additional staff required by his Department in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The Department of International Trade was created as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. Individual roles are not classified according to particular EU Exit scenarios, including leaving without a deal.
Since the department’s establishment in July 2016, DIT has grown from 2,504 to 3,925 at the end of December 2018. These figures includes staff working at UK Export Finance (UKEF).
The DIT workforce is ready to respond to a range of EU Exit scenarios. The numbers of additional staff needed will depend on the nature and timing of those scenarios and on the Government’s policy priorities.
The figures above include all people engaged in DIT and UKEF business activities. This includes employees (including those working overseas), contractors and those on loan from other government departments or seconded from organisations external to the Civil Service.