Trade Unions

Mr. Maude
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2009, Official Report, columns 943-4W, on trade unions, whether the office working space provided by the Cabinet Office to trade union representatives may be used for political activities.

Mr. Watson
Union Representatives are all civil servants and as such are bound by the Civil Service Code.

The rules relating to civil servants' involvement in political activities, including trade union representatives, are set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Mr. Maude
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answers to the hon. Member for Chichester of 25 February 2008, Official Report, column 1185W, on trades unions, and of 2 February 2009, Official Report, columns 943-44W, on trades unions, what the (a) location and (b) size of the office facilities provided for the exclusive use of each of the recognised trade unions in (i) his Department, (ii) Government Communications and (iii) the Central Office of Information is; and what the notional monetary value of such provision was in 2008-09.

Mr. Watson
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 2 February 2009, Official Report, columns 943-44W.