Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to reply to the letter of 22 August 2023 from the Public and Commercial Services Union on the ruling in Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council v Willetts & Ors.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office is working closely with our shared services provider (SSCL) to implement a solution. Early indications are that this will take place in Spring 2024.
I have informed the Public and Commercial Services Union that a full response to their letter of 22 August 2023 will be sent in due course.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what facility management services the Government Property Agency will provide the Ministry of Justice in 2023.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government Property Agency does not provide facilities management services to the Ministry of Justice.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which departmental buildings are part of the Mitie Affiliate Cluster.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
GPA currently outsources Workplace Services to MITIE to the following organisations and at following locations. This contract was competitively tendered to ensure it provides the best value for money to the taxpayer.
Building List |
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Ashford, International House |
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Basingstoke, Priestley House, Priestley Road |
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Birmingham, Quinton Business Park |
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Carlisle, Victoria Place |
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Carmarthen, Ty Myrddin |
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Cheltenham, St James House |
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East Kilbride, Eaglesham Road, Abercrombie House |
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Glasgow, Cornerstone |
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Inverness, Longman Road |
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London, 10 South Colonnade |
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London, 22-26 Whitehall |
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London, 35 Great Smith Street |
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London, 70-72 Whitehall |
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London, Admiralty House Whitehall |
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London, Dover House, 66 Whitehall |
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London, The Whitechapel Building |
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Norwich, Rosebery Court Central Avenue |
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Tadley near Basingstoke, Cottington Hill |
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Department list |
Health and Safety Executive |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
Cabinet Office |
Scotland Office |
Government Digital Service |
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Departments are in the Mitie Affiliate Cluster.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
GPA currently outsources Workplace Services to MITIE to the following organisations and at following locations. This contract was competitively tendered to ensure it provides the best value for money to the taxpayer.
Building List |
|
Ashford, International House |
|
Basingstoke, Priestley House, Priestley Road |
|
Birmingham, Quinton Business Park |
|
Carlisle, Victoria Place |
|
Carmarthen, Ty Myrddin |
|
Cheltenham, St James House |
|
East Kilbride, Eaglesham Road, Abercrombie House |
|
Glasgow, Cornerstone |
|
Inverness, Longman Road |
|
London, 10 South Colonnade |
|
London, 22-26 Whitehall |
|
London, 35 Great Smith Street |
|
London, 70-72 Whitehall |
|
London, Admiralty House Whitehall |
|
London, Dover House, 66 Whitehall |
|
London, The Whitechapel Building |
|
Norwich, Rosebery Court Central Avenue |
|
Tadley near Basingstoke, Cottington Hill |
|
Department list |
Health and Safety Executive |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
Cabinet Office |
Scotland Office |
Government Digital Service |
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Since April 2022 the Cabinet Office has had responsibility for providing Access to Work Scheme adjustments for its staff.
The Cabinet Office has supported a number of individuals through the Access to Work framework and the Department’s Workplace Adjustments Team.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps they have taken in their Department to operate the Disability Confident employer scheme for those seeking a lateral transfer; and how many and what proportion of candidates who declared themselves as having a disability and who applied under that scheme where (a) interviewed and (b) laterally transferred in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office, as an employer, is an accredited member of the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and retains a level 3 position. This demonstrates the department has the ability to actively and effectively recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
As a DCS member, the Cabinet Office is committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and putting in place reasonable and workplace adjustments wherever required.
We offer an interview to all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for, demonstrating flexibility when assessing applicants so disabled people have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job for which they have applied.
Cabinet Office regularly reviews and challenges operating processes to ensure disability inclusion happens throughout the recruitment process and during all employees’ periods of employment with the department.
In 2021-22, 174 candidates who declared a disability and applied under DCS on promotion were interviewed and 40 candidates received a provisional offer.
In 2021-22, 74 candidates who declared a disability and applied under DCS on a level transfer were interviewed and 40 candidates received a provisional offer.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps they have taken to operate a disability confident scheme for those seeking promotion in their Department; and how many and what proportion of those candidates who declared themselves as having a disability and who applied under the scheme were (a) interviewed and (b) promoted in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office, as an employer, is an accredited member of the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and retains a level 3 position. This demonstrates the department has the ability to actively and effectively recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
As a DCS member, the Cabinet Office is committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and putting in place reasonable and workplace adjustments wherever required.
We offer an interview to all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for, demonstrating flexibility when assessing applicants so disabled people have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job for which they have applied.
Cabinet Office regularly reviews and challenges operating processes to ensure disability inclusion happens throughout the recruitment process and during all employees’ periods of employment with the department.
In 2021-22, 174 candidates who declared a disability and applied under DCS on promotion were interviewed and 40 candidates received a provisional offer.
In 2021-22, 74 candidates who declared a disability and applied under DCS on a level transfer were interviewed and 40 candidates received a provisional offer.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the announced machinery of Government changes on 7 February 2023 and the formation of new departments will delay the retendering exercise currently being undertaken by the Government Property Agency on facility management.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Following the Machinery of Government that was announced on 7 February 2023, there has been no change to the GPA’s plan for delivering the retendering of the facility management contracts. Furthermore, no changes to the retendering exercise are envisaged or being planned.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, 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 Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is no legal requirement to publish duty assessment documentation, however, the relevant documentation is provided to staff and Trade Union colleagues upon request.
The Cabinet Office adheres to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) by completing an equality analysis for each HR policy that we update and/or introduce. This document records the analysis undertaken by the Cabinet Office to fulfil the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. The department meets the requirement by paying due regard to the need to:
Eliminate unlawful discrimination - direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, discrimination arising from disability, and harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act
Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not share it
We do this by giving consideration to protected characteristics, as well as other groups not included within the list of protected characteristics within the Act, such as varying socio-economic groups. We consider Public Sector Equality Duty before and during policy or service formation, and monitor how the policy or service is working once a decision is implemented. Considering equality in this way is a part of normal day-to-day activity and not a one off exercise.
The Cabinet Office meets regularly with Trade Union representatives. We share information and data requested on the Cabinet Office workforce where appropriate and in line with our privacy statements to help inform decision making.
We regularly communicate and meet with our Trade Union colleagues and have a standard process for engaging with them. In the context of HR policies, this includes, but is not limited to sharing draft HR policies for review, discussion and comment and provides Trade Union colleagues with the opportunity to provide feedback prior to publication.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, 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 Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon. Member to PQ 128667