Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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 delivery of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Staff Network activity is agreed between networks and departments as the employer. This includes permitted time allocation and any funding arrangements. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.

Currently 6 Diversity Networks are given pro-rata time allocation to support respective network activity. We have 11 FTE Network Chairs in total.

Time allocation

Diversity-related network time ranges between 10% minimum - 20% maximum (based on business need) protected time during core hours

1x10% time allocation 37 – hour week contract equates to 3.7 per chair member.

1x 20% time allocation 37 – hour week contract equates to 7.4 per chair member.

Across all 6 Networks:

• 11 people support network activity as “Chairs” with their allocated time ranging between 10% - 20%

• 80% - 90% of their time focused on their contracted job role.

Diversity Networks

• Ability Network

• Ethnic Diversity Network

• EU & International Network

• Faith & Belief Network

• LGBT+ Network

• Social Mobility Network

Funding

When approaching EDI activity, the default must be to use internal resources and best practice in departments and across government, as outlined in the May 2024 Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance. All external EDI spends are cleared and authorised by the Permanent Secretary.

Since the Machinery of Government (MOG) in February 2023, DCMS has typically spent <£1k per year, on Network activity, with no plans to to increase or reduce such funding.