UKGC Reveals Union Support Data
FOI response details office space and payroll services provided to trade unions, but leaves key financial questions unanswered.
A Freedom of Information request reveals the UK Gambling Commission provides nearly 26,000 sq ft of office space for union activities and free payroll services for union subscriptions. However, the regulator could not provide financial valuations or costings for this support.
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UKGC Discloses Union Support in FOI Response
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has shed light on the resources the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) provides to trade unions. The response, published following a request on 4 October 2024, details the office space, payroll services, and facility time arrangements for union activities within the regulatory body.
Why This Data Matters
The UKGC is funded by the licence fees paid by gambling operators. As a public body, its use of resources and operational expenditure are subject to scrutiny. This data provides consumers and industry stakeholders with insight into how the Commission allocates resources for internal staff activities, including its relationship with trade unions.
Key Findings from the Disclosure
The FOI request sought specific details on the support provided to unions. The UKGC's response revealed several key points.
Office Accommodation
The most striking figure provided is 25,974 square feet of office accommodation for staff to carry out trade union business. The Commission confirmed that none of this space is contained within separate buildings occupied solely by union staff. This figure likely corresponds to the UKGC's total office footprint, within which union representatives conduct their duties, rather than a dedicated, separate area of this size.
The UKGC also stated that it holds no information on whether a professional valuation of this space has been sought, nor does it hold information on any charges levied for its use.
Payroll and Financial Support
The response confirms the UKGC deducts trade union subscriptions directly from employee payrolls, a system known as "check off."
Key details include:
- No Fee Charged: The Commission currently provides this administrative service for free, a direct benefit to the union.
- Future Charges Possible: The UKGC noted that if changes to union rates incurred a fee from its payroll provider, it would apply the Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations, which could involve passing the cost on.
Gaps in the Data
For several key financial questions, the UKGC either redirected the requestor or stated the information was not held.
- Facility Time Costs: When asked for the total cost of trade union facility time (paid time off for union duties) for 2023/24, the UKGC invoked Section 21 of the FOIA, stating the information was reasonably accessible elsewhere. It directed the requestor to page 110 of its 2023-2024 Annual Report and Accounts.
- Information Not Held: The Commission stated it does not hold information on the facility time budget for the current financial year, nor does it have estimates for other associated costs like travel, office supplies, or telephone expenses for staff on union facility time.
Significance for Industry Transparency
This disclosure provides a partial view of the relationship between the UK's gambling regulator and its internal trade unions. While providing facilities for union representation is standard practice in the public sector, the response highlights several areas where financial details are not readily available.
The ambiguity of the office space figure and the number of "information not held" responses suggest that detailed cost tracking for this support is not a priority. For stakeholders who fund the Commission's activities, this FOI offers a baseline for understanding the regulator's internal resource allocation and transparency.