The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Dan Rogerson
Defra is currently reviewing the provision of check-off for trade union subscriptions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Karen Bradley
The Home Office has already undertaken a review of its check-off union
subscription provision.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Mr Shailesh Vara
Arrangements of this sort are kept under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether her Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
My Department’s payroll services are provided by the Ministry of Justice. We would therefore inherit any changes to the contract with the payroll provider made by the MoJ in relation to this issue. My understanding is that currently the MoJ has no plans to amend provisions relating to the check-off union subscription although options for change are being kept under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
David Mundell
The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly, all staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies who remain responsible for all employment matters including payroll deductions for union subscriptions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Stephen Hammond
The Department for Transport is undertaking a review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Stephen Crabb
The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right. As the Ministry of Justice is the main employer of staff at the Wales Office, we would follow any changes implemented by the MoJ.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Mike Penning
DWP is undertaking a review of check-off, along with other Departments. We have not reached a conclusion on this matter, but it is under active consideration.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Mr Francis Maude
Arrangements of this sort are kept under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Brandon Lewis
As I indicated in my answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, Column 884W, Ministers in this Department do not believe it is appropriate for public resources to be used to support the collection and administration of membership subscriptions and believe is an outdated and unnecessary 20th century practice.
It is also unsatisfactory that some trade unions collect the political levy via check-off, but make no attempt to inform would-be members that the political levy is optional, or even mention the right to opt out on their membership forms. It is the view of Ministers that this is a misleading and dubious marketing practice through omission.
I can confirm that we are taking further steps to review such practices.