Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 92 of NHS England's annual report and accounts 2024-25, whether a Minister approved NHS England's spending on paid trade union activities.

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, with local agreements with trade unions determining specifics.

Section 25 of the National Health Service staff terms and conditions of service handbook, Agenda for Change, gives NHS employers the flexibility to determine what union activities are paid. These payments do not require ministerial approval.