Written questions by Glen.

What his planned timetable is for the implementation of the infected blood compensation scheme.

The Victims and Prisoners Act requires the Government to make regulations to establish a compensation scheme by 24 August 2024. These regulations are subject to the made affirmative procedure which will provide Parliament with the opportunity to debate the details of the Scheme. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is established in law and the interim chief executive and his team are working hard to put the operational systems in place with the aim of beginning payments by the end of this year.

How many people were employed in the public sector by (a) headcount and (b) full time equivalent in the most recent period for which figures are available by sector.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 22nd July 2024 is attached.

Whether it is his policy that information which would be released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should be released in response to a Parliamentary Question.

A release of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is considered a release to the world at large.Responses to Parliamentary Questions should adhere to Ministers’ obligations under the Ministerial Code.

Whether he plans to increase productivity in the (a) Civil Service and (b) wider public sector.

This government will focus on improving the productivity of the public sector to deliver high quality public services, achieve value for money and deliver on the Government's core mission of economic growth.As part of this focus the government will develop a strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service, including bold options to improve skills, harness digital technology and drive better outcomes for public services.

Whether it is his policy that civil servants should work a four-day week on full pay.

It is not government policy that civil servants should work a four-day week on full pay.The Government is committed to supporting individuals and businesses to work in ways that best suit their particular circumstances while also ensuring that it provides value for money for the public.

With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 14 May 2024, HCWS464, on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Civil Service, what the Government's policy is on linking pay to performance against equality, diversity and inclusion objectives within the Civil Service.

There is no requirement to explicitly link pay, promotion, or bonus payments to performance against equality, diversity and inclusion objectives within the Civil Service. The end of year performance assessment process assesses Senior Civil Servant’s delivery against a number of management objectives, including finance, business delivery, and people and capability which considers delivery against the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-25.

Whether he plans to (a) reduce and (b) increase the number of (i) gender-neutral and (ii) specific-sex toilets on the Government Property Agency estate.

GPA's current Design Guide is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-government-workplace-design-guide.

Whether he plans to change the size of the Government Communications Service.

There are no current plans to change the size of the Government Communication Service (GCS). Its mission is to deliver communications which supports ministers’ priorities, enables the efficient and effective operations of public services and improves people’s lives. We constantly assess all functions and ensure they are delivering value for money.

What his policy is on the (a) minimum length of time a Government consultation should be open and (b) maximum length of time before a response is published to a closed consultation.

The Government’s Consultation Principles provide guidance to departments on conducting consultations. Principle E states that departments should determine a proportionate amount of time to run the consultation, taking into account the nature and impact of the proposal. Principle J says that responses should be published within 12 weeks of the consultation or that there should be an explanation why this is not possible. The Consultation Principles are publicly available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance

What his policy is on public sector trade union facility time transparency.

The Government is committed to ensuring there is sufficient facility time for all trade union representatives, in both the public and private sector, so that they have capacity to represent and defend workers, negotiate with employers and conduct training. There are no monetary allowances for trade union facility time other than paid time to carry out their duties. Public sector organisations are required to publish transparency data on facility time each year.

Whether arms length bodies will be permitted to hire public affairs consultancies to lobby the Government.

Section 4.1 of the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies states that ‘it will always be an improper use of public funds for public bodies to employ consultants or other companies to lobby Parliament, government or political parties.’

Whether he plans to publish an updated version of the report entitled Public Bodies 2020, published on 15 July 2021.

An updated version of the Public Bodies landscape, covering data from 2022-23 will be published on gov.uk in due course.

With reference to the Cabinet Office guidance on consultation principles, what guidance his Department is providing to other departments on publishing responses to consultations that were initiated under the previous government.

The Cabinet Office advises departments that a new administration may respond to a consultation that was initiated under a previous administration if they choose to do so.

What his planned timetable is for the proposed gov.uk webpage on transparency data going live.

This Government is fully committed to transparency and openness and publishes quarterly transparency data on Gov.uk. The Government is committed to looking at how the range of information published can be improved and made as useful as possible.

What the size was of the public sector estate managed by the Government Property Agency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

In 2022/23, the Government Property Agency grew its management to 45% of the government office portfolio, over 840,000 m². Further details can be found in the Agency’s 2023/24 Business Plan:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64b6891271749c001389ed86/The_Government_Property_Agency_Business_Plan_2023_to_2024.pdf

What the (a) headcount and (b) full time equivalent number of civil servants located outside of London was under the Places for Growth programme in the most recent period for which figures are available; and in which locations those civil servants worked.

For the most recent period for which figures are publicly available (Civil Service Statistics, March 2023):Headcount number of Civil Servants based outside of London was 409,820Full-time equivalent number of Civil Servants based outside of London was 381,720.As of December 2023, 18,283 government roles were relocated from London to the regions and nations across the UK under the Places for Growth Programme (PfG). The locations that received the most role relocations as of December 2023 were Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Sheffield.

What guidance his Department issues on the hire of public affairs consultancies by Arms Length Bodies to lobby the Government.

Section 4.1 of the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies states that ‘it will always be an improper use of public funds for public bodies to employ consultants or other companies to lobby Parliament, government or political parties.’

Whether he has plans to amend the Civil Service Pension Scheme in addition to implementation of the Mccloud judgment.

In 2023, regulations were made relating to the implementation of the McCloud judgement. The Government has no plans to amend the Civil Service Pension Scheme, other than such amendments necessary for technical or clarification purposes, or in order to continue to comply with legislative requirements.

What his policy is on check-off in the public sector.

The Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations, also known as the ‘Check-off Regulations’ were brought in by the previous government. This Government values the role of trade unions and is supportive of employers enabling their employees to pay their subscriptions in a straightforward and convenient way.The Government's King’s Speech committed to updating trade union legislation so it is fit for a modern economy and removing unnecessary restrictions on trade union activity.

Whether he plans to introduce collective bargaining in the civil service.

Pay arrangements for civil servants below the Senior Civil Service are delegated to departments as separate employers. Departments each have their own local pay bargaining units to engage with trade unions as departments deal with many different workforce issues.