Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the merits of flexible working patterns in (a) the Civil Service and (b) the wider public sector.

The government continues to monitor the impact of flexible working. There are numerous benefits of flexible working, which apply to both the public and private sectors.

Flexible working is essential in helping people achieve a better work life balance, which can lead to happier, healthier and more productive employees. This is good for employees and good for businesses. Flexible working can help make work more accessible to several groups by helping people to balance work with other responsibilities and needs in their personal lives. This includes those with disabilities, parents, and others with caring responsibilities.