§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in his Department are members of the territorial forces; and if he has a strategy to encourage members of staff to become members of the territorial forces. [44075]
§ Angela EagleThe information requested is not held centrally.
Staff in the Home Office (including the Prison Service) who are members of, or who intend to join, the reserve forces are granted up to eight days special leave for the purpose.
The Home Office is the lead Government Department for the active community initiative. Staff can take paid leave for volunteering in certain public capacities (e.g. school governors up to six days, magistrates up to 18 days). Staff can also take up to five days paid leave a year for any other voluntary activity.
A Volunteering Manager has recently been appointed, seconded from the voluntary sector, actively to promote volunteering among Home Office staff, ensure that a wide range of opportunities is available, monitor participation and evaluate the benefits to the individual and the Department.