§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff at his Department are justices of the peace; and if he has a strategy for his Department to encourage members of staff to become justices of the peace. [44552]
§ Angela EagleThe information requested is not held centrally.
Staff in the Home Office (including the Prison Service) who are justices of the peace are allowed up to 18 days special leave with pay to perform their duties plus reasonable travelling time, to permit up to 26 attendances.
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 in the non-agency Home Office 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, to actively promote volunteering among Home Office staff, ensure that a wide range of opportunities are available, monitor participation and evaluate the benefits to the individual and the Department.