Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will provide a list of (a) professional staff networks and (b) social clubs operating within his Department; and if he will provide the (i) budgets and (ii) FTE staff time allocated to each group within each of the last three years.

The Wales Office does not operate our own professional staff networks or social clubs; however, our staff have access to networks which are provided by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). MoJ networks include Disability, Carers, Faith, Sexual Orientation and Gender.

The Wales Office does not have a budget for staff networks or social clubs and no FTE staff time has been allocated to Wales Office staff networks over the last three years, although staff are encouraged to access MoJ staff networks.

Across the Civil Service, employee networks provide a valuable support structure for staff. They promote activities that open up opportunities in the Civil Service for talented civil servants and prospective civil servants, and encourage team working and an inclusive work culture.