Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in her Department (a) did not retain employment following completion of their probationary period and (b) had their probationary period extended in each of the last five years.

This question was answered on 12th November 2025
HM Treasury’s probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and to provide support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance or conduct are not satisfactory. This can include exiting the employee or extending their probation to provide further evidence for a final decision on their suitability. The below table provides the number of staff who had their probationary period extended in the last 5 calendar years, and the number of staff who have left involuntarily or were dismissed following a probation extension or not passing their original probation.

Year	Probation Extended	Left – Involuntarily (following probation extension/not passing original probation)
2020	7	Fewer than 51
2021	13	5
2022	5	Fewer than 51
2023	6	Fewer than 51
2024	Fewer than 51	Fewer than 51

Notes:

1. “Fewer than 5” is shown to protect individual confidentiality where the actual number is very small and could lead to identification of staff"