Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has to implement the findings of the fundamental review of business rates.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Following the review of business rates the government announced measures worth £7 billion for businesses over the next 5 years.
We have already started implementing the findings from the review, by freezing the multiplier in 2022/23, introducing a 50 per cent retail relief, and introducing new plant and machinery and heat networks reliefs.
Other reforms, including the new improvement relief, will be implemented from April 2023.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132395, what information she holds on (a) FTE staff time and (b) budgets available to recognised staff groups within her Department in each of the last three years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are currently 19 recognised staff groups, managed by staff across the Home Office. However, to retrieve FTE staff time and budgets available to recognised staff groups within the Department in each of the last three years can only be achieved with disproportionate effort.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132402 on civil service staff networks, what information he holds on (a) FTE staff time and (b) budgets available to recognised staff groups within his Department in each of the last three years.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
With reference to the answer of 9 March 2022, HM Treasury has several staff networks.
Network activities are voluntary and are carried out in addition to the individuals’ normal role.
There is no allocated budget available for networks within the Department.
Staff networks and societies provide valuable support to staff, they promote activities and opportunities for talented civil servants encouraging an inclusive work culture.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132402 on civil service staff networks, what recognised staff groups have been running in his Department over the last three years.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
With reference to the answer of 9 March 2022, HM Treasury has several staff networks.
Network activities are voluntary and are carried out in addition to the individuals’ normal role.
There is no allocated budget available for networks within the Department.
Staff networks and societies provide valuable support to staff, they promote activities and opportunities for talented civil servants encouraging an inclusive work culture.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132395 on civil service staff networks, what recognised staff groups have been running in her Department over the last three years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are 19 recognised staff groups that have been running in the department over the last three years. The groups are listed below:
A:gender Support Network
ABLE - the Home Office's disability network
Break the stigma - support group for staff affected by mental health issues
EU Nationals Network (EUNN)
Ethos - Home Office sports and social association
Home Office Christian Network
Home Office Hindu Connection
Home Office Islamic Network
Home Office Jewish Network (J-Net)
Home Office Sikh Association
Gender Equality Network
Giving Back (GB) Network
Home Office Retired and Reunited Staff Association (HORSA)
Spectrum: Home Office lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) staff support network
Stand 2 Support (veterans group)
The Network
Trade unions
Working Through Cancer Network
Carers' Group (Her Majesty's Passport Office)
UKVI Parental Network
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132391 on civil service staff networks, what information he holds on (a) FTE staff time and (b) budgets available to recognised staff groups within his Department in each of the last three years.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Across the Civil Service, employee networks provide a valuable support structure for staff.
(a) All staff networks are entirely voluntary. A Network Business Deal introduced in February 2021 provides all network chairs/deputy chairs of networks up to 25% of their contracted hours to conduct activities aimed at running the network and delivery of their business plans. This is subject to the business need and agreement with line management. It also allows that Employee network executive team members who volunteer alongside the Chairs, Co-Chairs, and Deputy Chairs can be allocated up to 10%
(b) In each of the last three financial years a staff network budget of £20,000 per annum has been controlled by Human Resources. This covers all the networks listed below:
The Department currently recognises 15 staff network groups and unless stated otherwise all have been running over the last three years. They include the following: BAMENet, Carers, Disability, EU Nationals, Fair Treatment Ambassadors (from 2021), Gender Equality, Health and Wellbeing, Jobshare, LGBT+, LGBT+ Allies, Neurodiversity, Social Mobility, Working Parents, 50+, Inclusion Allies (from 2022). The Department also recognises the following three faith network groups: Group Christian Fellowship, Jewish Network, Network for Muslims.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132391, what recognised staff groups have been running in his Department over the last three years.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department currently recognises 15 staff network groups and unless stated otherwise all have been running over the last three years. They include the following: BAMENet, Carers, Disability, EU Nationals, Fair Treatment Ambassadors (from 2021), Gender Equality, Health and Wellbeing, Jobshare, LGBT+, LGBT+ Allies, Neurodiversity, Social Mobility, Working Parents, 50+, Inclusion Allies (from 2022). The Department also recognises the following three faith network groups: Group Christian Fellowship, Jewish Network, Network for Muslims.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132401 on civil service staff networks, what information he holds on (a) FTE staff time and (b) budgets available to recognised staff groups within his Department in each of the last three years.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Wales Office has had no ‘recognised staff groups’ in place during the last three years. However, our staff can access the following Ministry of Justice staff networks:
ABLE network (disability)
Carers Network
Christians in MoJ
Frontline Staff Network
Gender Equality Network
Humanists in MoJ (HiMoJ)
Job Share Network
MoJ EU Nationals Network
MoJ Muslim Network
Parents’ Network
PROUD
Safe Space Forum
Spirit
Supporting the Workplace in Menopause (SWIM)
The Civil Service Jewish Network (JNet)
The Wales office has allocated no staff time to staff groups in the last three years and has not provided any funding to staff groups in this period.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132401 on civil service staff networks, if he will list his Department's recognised staff groups that have been in place over the last three years.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Wales Office has had no ‘recognised staff groups’ in place during the last three years. However, our staff can access the following Ministry of Justice staff networks:
ABLE network (disability)
Carers Network
Christians in MoJ
Frontline Staff Network
Gender Equality Network
Humanists in MoJ (HiMoJ)
Job Share Network
MoJ EU Nationals Network
MoJ Muslim Network
Parents’ Network
PROUD
Safe Space Forum
Spirit
Supporting the Workplace in Menopause (SWIM)
The Civil Service Jewish Network (JNet)
The Wales office has allocated no staff time to staff groups in the last three years and has not provided any funding to staff groups in this period.
Asked by: Gareth Bacon (Conservative - Orpington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132393 on civil service staff networks, what recognised staff groups have been running in his Department over the last three years.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The information requested is not held centrally.