HC Deb 10 April 2003 vol 403 cc391-2W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what policy on(a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible. [107606]

Clare Short

The Department for International Development (DFID) are committed, subject to operational needs, to meeting requests from staff to adopt alternative working patterns, including reduced hours. Under our flexible working hours system, the flexible working day is between 7:00 and 19:00. The core hours are 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 15:30. A minimum half-hour break must be taken between 12:00 and 14:00. Staff can build up extra hours up to a maximum of two working days, and work with a similar deficit of two working days, within any four-week accounting period. Staff need their line manager's approval before they can take flexi-leave in lieu of extra hours worked.

The Department has no agencies or sponsored public bodies with employees to whom the question applies.