Gareth Thomas MP: written questions 2026

121 published records · newest first.

Written questions

Office for Equality and Opportunity: Credit UnionsWomen and EqualitiesTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111635More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Minister for Women and Equalities departments and agencies do not offer payroll deductions to staff in order to join a credit union.
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
Wales Office: Credit UnionsWales OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: Staff in my Department are employed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which provides payroll services on our behalf. The MoJ does not currently operate a payroll‑deduction facility for credit union membership, however, staff who wish to join a credit unio...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Treasury: Credit UnionsTreasuryTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111633More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: There are currently no plans to introduce a requirement for HM Treasury and its agencies to offer payroll deductions to enable staff to join a credit union.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Transport: Credit UnionsDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: This is a service that we do not current offer in DfT or our agencies. Staff can still make arrangements to contribute to a credit union via direct debit.
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Scotland Office: Credit UnionsScotland OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Scotland Office does not employ any staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government departments, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government, who remain the employers.Any matters...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Credit UnionsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: At this time, the Department does not administer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no proposals to introduce such a service.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Restoration and Renewal Client BoardRestoration and Renewal Client BoardTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111629More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, whether the Client Board will offer payroll deductions to all its staff to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: House of Commons and Joint Department staff, including those working for the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Client Team, already have access to payroll deductions to enable them to join a credit union, operated through London Mutual Credit Union. Full ...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
National Audit Office: Credit UnionsPublic Accounts CommissionTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111628More
Question: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, whether the Commission has had discussions with the National Audit Office regarding employee payroll deductions to credit unions.
Answer: This is not a matter that the Commission has discussed with the National Audit Office.The NAO does not currently operate any payroll deduction arrangements for credit unions, nor does it have any active schemes or mechanisms in place that facilitate credi...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Prime Minister: Credit UnionsCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111627More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government will require No 10 to offer payroll deductions to all its employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Cabinet Office and its agencies do not offer payroll deductions to staff in order to join a credit union.
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Northern Ireland Office: Credit UnionsNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not offer payroll deductions for credit unions. However, the department offers financial wellbeing support and advice through the employee benefits package. The employee benefits package is provided to NIO staff by t...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Justice: Credit UnionsMinistry of JusticeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: I can confirm that the Ministry of Justice does not currently offer or promote credit union offerings through payroll deductions. However, the Department offers financial wellbeing support and advice through the employee benefits package.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Credit UnionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: MHCLG continually reviews the range of financial wellbeing support offered to our employees and does offer general payroll deduction facilities. Currently no specific credit union deduction arrangements are in place. Agency payroll operations are delegate...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
House of Commons CommissionHouse of Commons CommissionTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111623More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission will offer payroll deductions to all House staff to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: House of Commons and Joint Department staff already have access to payroll deductions to enable them to join a credit union, operated through London Mutual Credit Union. Full details are available in the staff handbook.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Home Office: Credit UnionsHome OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Home Office introduced a new benefits platform in August 2025 which includes a wellbeing hub with financial education and support.At the current time the Home Office is not intending to introduce a payroll deduction service for accessing credit unions...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Department of Health and Social Care: Credit UnionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Department’s financial wellbeing offer for its workforce includes access to a variety of advances including rental deposits and season ticket loans, as well as debt/budgeting advice and support through its Employee Assistance Programme.The Department ...
Answered 20 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Foreign, Commonwealth and DEvelopment Office: Credit UnionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has no such plans.
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Credit UnionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: Defra does not offer a credit unions payroll deduction process to staff. Defra does operate a comprehensive employee benefit offering with access to retail discounts, savings, Cycle to Work schemes, dental and health wellbeing programmes, and has recently...
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Credit UnionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Department does not currently offer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no immediate plans to introduce this facility.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Education: Credit UnionsDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The department’s financial wellbeing offer for its workforce includes access to a variety of advances including rental deposits and season ticket loans and budgeting advice. We have no current plans to introduce payroll deductions for Credit Union members...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Defence: Credit UnionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) already offers Serving Personnel, and Veterans in receipt of a pension, the opportunity to save with our three credit unions (https://www.joiningforcescu.co.uk/) via payroll deduction administered by Defence Business Services...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Credit UnionsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: DCMS does not have, nor will have, the facility to offer payroll deductions for employees who wish to join a credit union.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Church Commissioners: Credit UnionsChurch CommissionersTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111614More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church will offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The National Church Institutions, in partnership with the Churches Mutual Credit Union, provide a facility for those on the central Church of England payroll to save or repay loans via payroll deduction. Currently, approximately 400 clergy and National Ch...
Answered 19 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Cabinet Office: Credit UnionsCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111613More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Cabinet Office and its agencies do not offer payroll deductions to staff in order to join a credit union.
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Business and Trade: Credit UnionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade offer a variety of financial support to employees. This includes season ticket loans, bicycle advances, rental deposits, house purchase advances (for those relocating and meeting departmental eligibility criteria) and...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Attorney General's Office: Credit UnionsAttorney GeneralTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111611More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The AGO or its sponsored departments do not offer payroll deduction facility to employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record

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