§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis. [21833]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the work/life balance of its civilian staff. A range of flexible working patterns, including part-time working, flexible working hours, job sharing and homeworking, is available to staff by agreement with their managers. The MOD publicises its policy on flexible working and encourages managers to respond positively to requests as part of its commitment to diversity.
97 staff are formally registered as homeworkers and many others have the opportunity to work at home occasionally. Funding is available to provide equipment to enable staff to work from home on a full or part-time basis. A pilot scheme has been established to explore more formally the practical issues of working from home, and the lessons learned will be used to publicise and promote homeworking.