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Written Question
Civil Servants: Remote Working
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants have conditions of employment which impose (a) no and (b) a four day limit on the number of days each week that they can work from home; and whether he has made a comparative assessment of the productivity of those who work from home for four days or more each week and those who do not.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

There is no information available centrally on how many civil servants have conditions of employment that impose no, and a four day limit on the number of days each week they can work from home. Decisions on terms and conditions of employment are made by the employing department, depending on their specific business requirements and nature of the role. Where business requirements allow for it, departments will operate flexible working arrangements.

Civil servants are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office with decisions on implementing and evaluating this expectation made by departments. A small number of home working contracts are in place but these are not routinely approved other than for a very small number of roles, or where a workplace adjustment is agreed for conditions recognised under the Equality Act. Equally, there are also employees who work only from the workplace, due to the nature of their roles, or through personal choice.

There have been no specific central comparative assessments within the civil service of productivity of those who work from home for four days or more each week. It is recognised within departments that there are clear benefits of face-to-face working, including productivity, with complex tasks and problem solving undertaken more efficiently.


Non-Departmental Publication (Guidance and Regulation)
Civil Service

Feb. 22 2024

Source Page: Staff transfers in the public sector
Document: Staff transfers in the public sector (webpage)

Found: From: Civil Service Published 1 May 2014 Last updated 22 February 2024 —


Departmental Publication (Transparency)
HM Treasury

Dec. 14 2023

Source Page: HM Treasury business appointment rules advice July to September 2023
Document: HM Treasury business appointment rules advice for July to September 2023 (PDF)

Found: the applicant, an d title of their former Civil Service role; o Date applicant left /retired from


Departmental Publication (Transparency)
HM Treasury

Dec. 14 2023

Source Page: HM Treasury business appointment rules advice July to September 2023
Document: HM Treasury business appointment rules advice for July to September 2023 (PDF)

Found: the applicant, an d title of their former Civil Service role; o Date applicant left /retired from


Departmental Publication (Transparency)
Ministry of Defence

Apr. 09 2024

Source Page: FOI responses published by MOD: week commencing 8 April 2024 (part 1)
Document: Royal Fleet Auxiliary grades and salary scale (PDF)

Found: 13 July 2021 I would like a copy of the RFA terms and conditions of service for all rating and officer


Deposited Papers

Dec. 16 2010

Source Page: The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: 11th report 2009-2010. 38 p.
Document: DEP2010-2309.pdf (PDF)

Found: They have experience at the most seni or levels of Parliament, the Civil Service, the Diplomatic Service


Deposited Papers
Cabinet Office

Nov. 28 2008

Source Page: Civil Service Compensation Scheme. 98 p.
Document: DEP2008-2925.pdf (PDF)

Found: Civil Service Compensation Scheme. 98 p.


Deposited Papers

Jul. 29 2008

Source Page: The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: ninth report 2006-2008. 55 p.
Document: DEP2008-2102.pdf (PDF)

Found: or Head of the Home Civil Service.


Deposited Papers
Cabinet Office

Dec. 07 2009

Source Page: Work, recovery and inclusion. Incl. annexes. 72 p.
Document: DEP2009-3040.pdf (PDF)

Found: programme of work to help the Civil Service become a better employer of socially excluded groups


Departmental Publication (Transparency)
HM Treasury

Oct. 19 2023

Source Page: HM Treasury business appointment rules advice April to June 2023
Document: HM Treasury business appointment rules advice April to June 2023 (PDF)

Found: the applicant, an d title of their former Civil Service role; o Date applicant left /retired from