Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Civil Service Workforce Plan 2016-2020, what formal role will be given to staff networks to promote inclusivity on grounds of religion or belief.

The Civil Service Workforce Plan 2016-2020 set out ambition to the UK’s most inclusive employer. To deliver this objective the Government published “A Brilliant Civil Service: becoming the UK’s most inclusive employer” in October 2017, which committed to focusing on religion, belief and non-belief as part of our wider approach to inclusion.

This Strategy set out a commitment to work with staff networks in the Civil Service, including faith and belief networks, to provide advice and support on improving the experience of staff, as well as promoting interfaith dialogue and inclusion. They play an important role in contributing to the debate on what progress we should make and how; as well as providing peer support and advice to others, including Permanent Secretaries and senior leaders.