Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) he and (b) the Permanent Secretary approved the use of paid facility time for trade union activities in NHS England in the 2024-25 NHS England annual report and accounts.

The use of paid facility time for trade union duties and activities is a matter for NHS England as the employer. Trade union representatives are entitled to paid time for trade union duties and unpaid time for trade union activities by law under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULCRA), with local agreements with trade unions determining specifics. Section 25 of the National Health Service staff terms and conditions of service, the Agenda for Change, handbook gives NHS employers the flexibility to determine what union activities are paid. Approval for these payments is not required by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, or the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care.