Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85499 on Cabinet Office: Facility Agreements, how facility time is authorised; and whether Ministers approve it.

Trade Union representatives have a statutory right to be granted reasonable paid time off to undertake trade union duties and reasonable unpaid time to undertake trade union activities.

The facility time guidance sets out that Civil Servants who are Trade Union representatives will spend at least 50% of their time delivering their Civil Service role. Where time is required above this figure including acting in a 100% role, this will be by exception and will need to be agreed by the Secretary of State.