Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has received representations on UK Visas and Immigrations (UKVI) employees being offered 10 days of special leave to meet childcare responsibilities in response to the covid-19 outbreak; and if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of special leave available for staff of (a) UKVI and (b) her Department with caring responsibilities during the covid-19 pandemic.

All Home Office employees, including those working in UK Visas and Immigration, with children affected by school closures can request up to ten working days/two working weeks paid special leave as an interim provision to enable them to care for their children at home and/or to make longer-term alternative care arrangements.

If employees need further special leave beyond the initial period, this may be granted by a senior manager if no other suitable arrangements can be made for the child’s care. The wellbeing of our employees is paramount and we have a range of policies to support those who are managing caring responsibilities.