Written questions by Griffiths.

What guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on (a) formally notifying and (b) engaging with Members of Parliament during significant environmental or public safety incidents affecting their constituencies.

The government issues a range of guidance on the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, its associated regulations and wider non-statutory arrangements for civil protection. This supports local responders, which includes Local Authorities, to understand how to fulfil their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies taking place in the UK, including environmental and public safety incidents. Cabinet Office guidance, including the ‘Emergency Response and Recovery’ guidance and ‘National Resilience Standards for Local Resilience Forums’ guidance, provides information on protocols that local responders should have for ensuring appropriate political involvement in the management of emergencies, particularly in the recovery phase. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also issued ‘Local authorities’ preparedness for civil emergencies: a good practice guide for chief executives’ guidance which provides assistance to chief executives of local authorities to make sure they are well-prepared to respond and recover from emergencies. This includes the need to provide clear information to politicians on what is happening during an emergency.

Whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day.

Unfair dismissal in the UK is governed by the Employment Rights Act 1996 and other legislation, which stipulates that you must have worked for your employer for a minimum period before you qualify for the right to claim unfair dismissal at a tribunal. An employee usually has the right to make an unfair dismissal claim to an employment tribunal if they: a) are legally classed as an employee and b) have worked for their employer for 2 years. In line with legislation, permanent Cabinet Office employees and those on fixed term appointments with over 2 years’ service have unfair dismissal rights, provided they have been recruited through Fair and Open Competition in accordance with the Recruitment Principles. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in line with the Government’s legislation on employment rights.