Office of National Statistics and mandatory attendance at workplaces

That this House expresses support and solidarity with the 1,200 Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) union members working for the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in Newport, Titchfield, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh who are currently balloting for industrial action over mandatory attendance at workplaces; notes that there was no previous requirement to spend a specific amount of time in offices but, in late 2023, workers were told that from January 2024 they would need to spend a minimum of 20% of their working time in the workplace, increasing to 40% from April; agrees with the PCS that the post-pandemic arrangements at the ONS have been an example of best practice in flexible and sustainable ways of working and that no evidence-based business case has been made for disrupting this model; further notes that this sudden change has caused anger among staff, already demoralised by the lack of trust and the need for rapid changes to their childcare and other arrangements; and calls on the Government to engage in meaningful talks with the union to arrive at a sensible way forward that accommodates the legitimate concerns of ONS employees.