Northern Ireland Office: Facilities Agreements
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the total cost of facility time to the department in (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26; and what was the headcount number of facility time staff in each; how many were 100% facility time; and whether funding was provided for trade union activities in each of those years.
Answered by Northern Ireland Office
Direct financial support is not provided to trade unions by the Northern Ireland Office. Paid facility time is allowed only for statutory duties, such as accompanying members to formal meetings or taking part in collective bargaining, adhering to Cabinet Office guidelines. Paid time off is explicitly ruled out for political campaigning or union activities.
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