Written questions by Thomas.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The Department for Business and Trade offer a variety of financial support to employees. This includes season ticket loans, bicycle advances, rental deposits, house purchase advances (for those relocating and meeting departmental eligibility criteria) and salary advances. In addition, employees can access support for debt management or financial wellbeing through the Employee Assistance Programme.There are no plans to introduce payroll deductions for Credit Union purposes. The Department for Business and Trade is not able to advise on behalf of other agencies.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The Department does not currently offer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no immediate plans to introduce this facility.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not offer payroll deductions for credit unions. However, the department offers financial wellbeing support and advice through the employee benefits package. The employee benefits package is provided to NIO staff by the Ministry of Justice and its contracted suppliers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of allegations of harassment by the Government of Uganda against leaders of the opposition and their families.

The UK works with the Government of Uganda on a range of important issues, including trade, development, regional security and refugee response. We also regularly raise concerns about infringements of human rights and restrictions on political activity, including on opposition parties and their supporters. The UK engaged across the political spectrum to advocate for peaceful and credible January 2026 elections, including for opposition candidates to be able to campaign freely and safely, and we continue to press for democratic rights and freedoms, including through our High Commission in Kampala.

Innovation and Technology, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

At this time, the Department does not administer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no proposals to introduce such a service.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The AGO or its sponsored departments do not offer payroll deduction facility to employees to enable them to join a credit union.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

There are currently no plans to introduce a requirement for HM Treasury and its agencies to offer payroll deductions to enable staff to join a credit union.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The Home Office introduced a new benefits platform in August 2025 which includes a wellbeing hub with financial education and support.At the current time the Home Office is not intending to introduce a payroll deduction service for accessing credit unions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of human rights abuses in Uganda.

The UK works with the Government of Uganda on a range of important issues, including trade, development, regional security and refugee response. We also regularly raise concerns about infringements of human rights and restrictions on political activity, including on opposition parties and their supporters. The UK engaged across the political spectrum to advocate for peaceful and credible January 2026 elections, including for opposition candidates to be able to campaign freely and safely, and we continue to press for democratic rights and freedoms, including through our High Commission in Kampala.

Media and Sport, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

DCMS does not have, nor will have, the facility to offer payroll deductions for employees who wish to join a credit union.

Representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, whether the Client Board will offer payroll deductions to all its staff to enable them to join a credit union.

House of Commons and Joint Department staff, including those working for the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Client Team, already have access to payroll deductions to enable them to join a credit union, operated through London Mutual Credit Union. Full details are available in the staff handbook.The R&R Delivery Authority is a company limited by guarantee established pursuant to the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019, and under the Act, it may appoint employees on such terms and conditions, including as to remuneration and allowances, as it may determine. The Delivery Authority does not offer the ability to participate in a credit union. The Delivery Authority regularly engages with colleagues to seek their views, and the ability to participate in a credit union is not something in which staff have expressed interest.

Whether the Commission has had discussions with the National Audit Office regarding employee payroll deductions to credit unions.

This is not a matter that the Commission has discussed with the National Audit Office.The NAO does not currently operate any payroll deduction arrangements for credit unions, nor does it have any active schemes or mechanisms in place that facilitate credit union deductions from employees’ salaries.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission will offer payroll deductions to all House staff to enable them to join a credit union.

House of Commons and Joint Department staff already have access to payroll deductions to enable them to join a credit union, operated through London Mutual Credit Union. Full details are available in the staff handbook.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

I can confirm that the Ministry of Justice does not currently offer or promote credit union offerings through payroll deductions. However, the Department offers financial wellbeing support and advice through the employee benefits package.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

Staff in my Department are employed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which provides payroll services on our behalf. The MoJ does not currently operate a payroll‑deduction facility for credit union membership, however, staff who wish to join a credit union can already do so independently. My department continues to support staff financial wellbeing through the MoJ’s wider financial wellbeing offer, which provides access to information, tools, and advice.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

DWP has existing arrangements with three of the UK’s leading credit unions: COMMSAVE, HEY (Hull and East Yorkshire) and VOYAGER.The payroll savings scheme with credit unions is part of DWP’s wider financial wellbeing toolkit, which is readily available to all employees through the staff intranet, and is promoted as part of our wider wellbeing offer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

Defra does not offer a credit unions payroll deduction process to staff. Defra does operate a comprehensive employee benefit offering with access to retail discounts, savings, Cycle to Work schemes, dental and health wellbeing programmes, and has recently launched additional Financial Wellbeing products, accessible through payroll savings, the Government “Help to Save” scheme and access to more affordable borrowing solutions through our benefit partners.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The department’s financial wellbeing offer for its workforce includes access to a variety of advances including rental deposits and season ticket loans and budgeting advice. We have no current plans to introduce payroll deductions for Credit Union membership. Decisions for Arm’s Length Bodies are up to each organisation.

Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The Department’s financial wellbeing offer for its workforce includes access to a variety of advances including rental deposits and season ticket loans, as well as debt/budgeting advice and support through its Employee Assistance Programme.The Department does not offer credit union membership via payroll deductions and has no current plans to introduce such arrangements. Of our executive agencies, only the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has a general payroll deduction facility which could be used for such a purpose and the UKHSA includes details on its Financial Wellbeing page as to where employees can find further information on credit unions.

Representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church will offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

The National Church Institutions, in partnership with the Churches Mutual Credit Union, provide a facility for those on the central Church of England payroll to save or repay loans via payroll deduction. Currently, approximately 400 clergy and National Church Institutions' employees use this system.