To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 865, on trade unions, what office facilities his Department provides for the exclusive use of each recognised trade union; and what the notional monetary value of such provision was in 2008-09. (271916)

The information is as follows:

1. The Department for Work and Pensions allows the following office facilities for the use of its recognised trade unions:

A room, wherever possible, is made available for the use of the trade union side. Failing this, trade union representatives are allowed the use of private rooms where necessary, for example, to enable private discussions with individual union members.

The trade unions are provided with sufficient furniture e.g. desks, lockable pedestals and filing cabinets, to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently.

Trade union representatives are allowed the use of official telephones for union activities permitted within the DWP Employee Relations framework.

Trade union representatives are allowed the use of departmental personal computers, where available, for work in respect of their representational duties. They may also be allowed access to e-mail facilities.

The local union branch may have notice board facilities on official premises, where they are available.

Trade union representatives are allowed reasonable use of office services and provisions for essential trade union activities, provided it does not interfere with official work and they are not used excessively. This could include, for example, use of typists, the internal courier, facsimile machines, photocopiers and stationery.

2. The information requested on what the notional monetary value of such provision was in 2008-09 is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 865W, on trade unions, which trade unions his Department’s agencies recognise. (271917)

The Department for Work and Pensions and its Executive agencies, Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) recognise three trade unions as representing members of staff; the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), FDA and Prospect.