Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Home Office are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; what are the names of each of the networks being funded; and what plans they have to (a) increase, or (b) reduce, such funding.

As the noble Lord will be aware, successive governments have supported civil service staff to engage in network activity designed to foster a more inclusive workforce. The funding for that activity within the Home Office over the period 2019-24 was set out by the previous government in HC26338.

For network chairs and other representatives elected by their colleagues, the time they may spend on network activity is capped at 50 per cent of their working hours, and their role within the Department will always be given first priority over staff network activity. Time allocation is pro rata based on working pattern and contract, but the total amount of time allocated to network activity by relevant officials is currently equivalent to 19 FTE staff per year.

In August 23, the Home Office reported an allocated support time amounting to 19 FTE for the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure and Impact Review.