Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of his Department's compliance with the requirement in section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management Code.

The Government recognises there are significant benefits to both employers and employees when organisations and unions work together effectively to deliver high quality public services, but facility time within the public sector must be accountable and represent value for money.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales (OSSW) understands that it has an obligation to provide reasonable paid time off to recognised trade union representatives to undertake trade union duties. This includes paid time off for safety representatives as set out in section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management Code.

The Office is not an employer in its own right. Our staff are employed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The MoJ provides trade union representation for OSSW staff.