Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to manage the colonial aspects of the art and heritage of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and each of its arms’ length bodies.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government has taken no decisions on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) estate since coming into office less than a month ago, on 5 July.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the King’s Speech background brief, whether they intend to implement in this Parliament all the policies from the Labour Party Manifesto which are not mentioned in the Government’s legislative agenda for the first Session.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This Government is committed to implementing its manifesto commitments to deliver real change over the course of the Parliament. The King's Speech takes place at the start of each session and sets out the policies which require legislation in the parliamentary session ahead.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what changes have been made to the Downing Street podium since the general election, and whether a new podium has been or will be procured.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

There have been no changes to the Downing Street lectern since the general election.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the most recent headquarters occupancy data for each Government department across each week in the last month for which figures are available.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The latest headquarters occupancy data for each Government department is available publicly on gov.uk, and is set out below. The publication of this data was suspended in line with pre-election guidance for the duration of the Pre-Election Period.

1. DSIT were unable to provide data ahead of transfer into their new HQ 22-26WH.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 13 August 2024 (HL548), what equivalent occupancy data has been compiled since the general election; and whether they will place all post-election data that is held for each department in the Library of the House.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The publication of this data was suspended in line with pre-election guidance for the duration of the Pre-Election Period. We will provide an update on future publication plans in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 13 August 2024 (HL548), what is their policy on full-time civil servants working a four-day week on full-pay; and whether the ‘right to switch off’ will apply to civil servants on their fallow workday when working a four-day week.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Departments are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of employment for their civil servants, in accordance with the rules of the Civil Service Management Code. Full time employees across the Civil Service generally work 42 hours gross (37 hours net) per week over 5 days. Some departments may have flexible working policies that allow employees to request compressed hours, where the same hours are worked, only compressed over a shorter period, with no change to pay. There are no flexible working arrangements that permit reduced hours or part time working in exchange for full time pay.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 13 August 2024 (HL548),  what is their policy on how often civil servants should work in the office rather than remotely.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Current Civil Service guidance requires Civil Servants to attend the office or work face-to-face with colleagues at least 60% of the time. There are no plans to change those requirements.

Found: Boateng; Lord German; Lord Grimstone of Boscobel; Lord Hannay of Chiswick; Lord Howell of Guildford; Lord

Found: Etherton; Lord Fox; Lord German; Lord Hannay of Chiswick; Lord Howell of Guildford; Lord Marland; Lord

Found: Etherton; Lord Fox; Lord German; Lord Hannay of Chiswick; Lord Howell of Guildford; Lord Marland; Lord