§ 4. Mr. CousinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to end his practice of offering gardening leave to the staff of the Treasury. [693]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightIt remains the Treasury's policy to provide opportunities for temporary work for staff between postings wherever possible to avoid the need for what is colloquially referred to as gardening leave.
§ Mr. CousinsDo the Government accept that it cannot be right to tell employees in Britain that their security and rights at work must be subjected to the full rigour of market forces while, at the same time, giving senior staff at the Treasury the extraordinary perk of a right to take up to six weeks a year on top of all other holiday entitlements to dig their gardens?
§ Mrs. KnightI recognise why the hon. Gentleman is interested in the subject: he lists composting as one of his interests in "Dod". I assure him that at the moment only eight out of more than 1,000 Treasury staff are on gardening leave. We are certainly doing our best to review our policies whenever possible to use people better.
§ Mr. Matthew BanksNever mind gardening leave for senior Treasury officials, does my hon. Friend agree that if the Labour party ever form a Government, the whole country will be on gardening leave?
§ Mrs. KnightMy hon. Friend has put his spade in it much better than anyone else so far in the debate.