§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the grades of Treasury staff that qualified for gardening leave between 1993 and 1995 indicating the relevant salary bands for each year; [532]
(2) if he will list the number of staff on the grades qualifying for gardening leave for the periods mentioned in his answer of 2 November, Official Report, column 428, excluding any such staff on permanent secondment to other Departments. [973]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightStaff do not qualify for "gardening leave". This term is used to cover those not working, but excluding those on statutory paid leave, maternity leave or long-term sick leave. It is Treasury policy to provide opportunities for temporary work for staff between postings whenever possible. This policy applies to staff at all grades but generally it affects only staff at grade 7 and below. The salary bands for these grades are published in the "Civil Service Management Code" which is available in the House of Commons Library. The Treasury staff in post figures for the periods requested are given in the table.
Her Majesty Treasury staff in post by quarter Full-time equivalents 1993 1994 1995 1 January — 1,849 1,305 1 April — 1,387 1,127 1 July 1,924 1,362 1,092 1 October 1,891 1,349 1,080 1. The table includes Forward, until it was privatised in February 1994.
2. The table excludes staff on loan to other Departments or on secondment but paid directly by outside organisations but includes staff on secondment that are paid by the Treasury and then reimbursed.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of his staff who served on gardening leave during 1994. [974]
§ Mrs. KnightThe total number of staff who were on "gardening leave"—those not working, but excluding those on statutory paid leave, maternity leave and long term sick leave—during 1994, was 23.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the average length of gardening leave periods undertaken in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995. [531]
§ Mrs. KnightThe average period of time on "gardening leave"—those not working, but excluding those on statutory paid leave, maternity leave or long term sick leave—was 20 weeks in 1994 and 18 weeks, until 1 October, in 1995.