Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
In the 2014 People Survey, 25 staff respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. 62 staff respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.
Whilst these figures are below the Civil Service average, the Department does not tolerate any form of bullying and harassment. Clear steps have been taken since the days of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which was accused of a culture of bullying (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee, January 2006, HC 559).
We have a clear policy that sets out the behaviours that are expected of all staff, and the behaviours that will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action. The policy also makes clear how staff should address any concerns they may have. Individual members of staff also have access to that policy and to a confidential employee assistance programme operated by an external provider that offers support, advice and counselling.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department responded that they were treated fairly at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
In the 2014 People Survey, 60% of DCLG respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work.
85% of DCLG respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work.
These figures are broadly in line with the Civil Service average.
We work closely with the Department's 'Disability Network' to promote awareness and understanding of disability related issues in the workplace. We also provide individual support, help and guidance to disabled staff on 'disability' and 'reasonable adjustment' related issues; we do this in conjunction with our delivery partners at the Department for Work and Pensions.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to reclaim and re-use disability adaptations and equipment that are no longer required by clients.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
The Department for Communities and Local Government funds “Foundations” to act as the national body for home improvement agencies. Part of the national body’s role involves working with local home improvement agencies, including those provided by local authorities, to improve the provision of adaptations and encouraging best practice such as recycling and reusing adaptations and equipment where possible.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of (a) homelessness and (b) rough sleeping.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
Homelessness is lower now than in 27 of the last 30 years. We have seen a 38% decrease in the number of families in Bed and Breakfast over six weeks since this time last year.
This Government has supported innovation through roll-out of No Second Night Out and Streetlink which means rough sleepers are being found quicker and given the help they need to get them off the streets.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
The table below provides a summary of the performance results for non-Senior Civil Service staff for whom the DCLG process applied, where disability has been declared, and whose performance markings have been entered into the HR database:
Number of staff | Exceptional | Good | Development Needed |
Not Disabled | 217 | 824 | 94 |
Disabled | 7 | 45 | 15 |
Due to changes in methodology in the manner in which such assessments are undertaken, these figures are not comparative with those given to the hon. Member in the answer to her of 4 November 2013, Official Report, Column 22W.
The small sample sizes may mean the results are not statistically significant. We will be undertaking further analysis of the wider performance outcomes across both performance years and all protected characteristics. We will consider whether action is required to address any clear findings.
The Department provides a reasonable adjustments service, which has recently been subject to a review, to allow staff to ensure that a person with a disability is not put at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled persons generally, who work under the same conditions. The Department’s Disability Champion also continues to work closely with the Disability Staff Network in raising awareness of disability issues to the wider Department.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the (a) fairness and (b) viability of reforming the firefighters' pension scheme allow members to retire on the basis of length of service rather than age.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government is reforming all public service pension schemes to ensure that they remain fair to workers and sustainable for taxpayers. The transitional protection arrangements for the firefighters' pension schemes are set out in the Proposed Final Agreement which was published in May 2012. The transitional protections use age to calculate a member's entitlement to protection. More firefighters are protected from changes than any other large public service workforce.
There has been recent correspondence with the Fire Brigades Union on the scope and timing of discussions on this issue. Copies of this correspondence can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firefighters-pension-scheme-reforms.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has (a) discussed with and (b) received any representations from the Fire Brigades Union regarding the adoption of a firefighters' pension scheme which would allow members to retire on the basis of length of service rather than age.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government is reforming all public service pension schemes to ensure that they remain fair to workers and sustainable for taxpayers. The transitional protection arrangements for the firefighters' pension schemes are set out in the Proposed Final Agreement which was published in May 2012. The transitional protections use age to calculate a member's entitlement to protection. More firefighters are protected from changes than any other large public service workforce.
There has been recent correspondence with the Fire Brigades Union on the scope and timing of discussions on this issue. Copies of this correspondence can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firefighters-pension-scheme-reforms.