Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with the University and College Union as a result of its decision to undertake strike action over changes to staff pension schemes.

I have spoken to senior representatives of the University and College Union (UCU) as part of my engagement with all parties to the debate over reforms to the Universities Superannuation Scheme, to encourage them to continue discussions to find a solution. Officials in the Department for Education have also met with representatives of the UCU.