HC Deb 01 February 2000 vol 343 c553W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many officials in his Department are on gardening leave. [108055]

Mr. Rooker

The terms and conditions of the Department do not include a provision for gardening leave. We would interpret the term as applying to staff who have no current assignment and are in receipt of full pay and are not required to attend for work. The Department currently has no staff whose absence falls within this interpretation.