Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in (1) the Department for Business and Trade, and (2) UK Export Finance, 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 whether they have any plans to increase or reduce such funding.

The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid. A maximum of two chairs from each of the 5 networks aligned to DBT’s evidence-led areas of focus are allocated up to 10% of their working hours as protected time for network activity. This applies to REACH (race); DisNET (disability); Gender Equality Network; Social Mobility Network; and LGBTQ+ Network. There are no plans to increase or reduce this.

UKEF does not hold the data requested. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.