§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what policy on(a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible.[107649]
§ Mr. HuttonThe working day is divided into band widths and core times. In the Department of Health these are:
Starting bandwidths 07.00–10.00 Morning core time 10.00–12 00 Lunchtime band widths 12.00–14.00 Afternoon core time 14.00–15 30 Finishing band widths 15.30–19.00 Core time is the busiest part of the day when all staff are supposed to be at work. Absence during core time can only be with line management permission or for sickness or for some other unexpected reason which prevents someone being at work. These arrangements also apply to most of the Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies. Those with varying bandwidths and core times to suit their local operational needs, are listed as follows.
The Pensions Agency have the following bandwidths which were with local Trades Unions(TUS):
98W
Starting bandwidths 07.00–09.30 Morning core time 09.30–12.00 Lunchtime band widths 12.00–14.00 Afternoon core time 14.00–15.00 Finishing band widths 15.00–19.00 The National Care Standards Commission—flexitime is available to administrative support staff on salary bands 1–5 inclusive, only with line manager's approval. The following bandwidths apply:
Starting bandwidths 08.00–09.30 Morning core time 09.30–12.00 Lunchtime band widths 12.00–14.00 Afternoon core time 14.00–16.00 Finishing band widths 16.00–18.00 For other groups of staff that are not covered by the flexi-time scheme identified above, the commission supports the process of flexible working without the use of a formalised scheme.
The National Radiological Protection Board operate a similar flexible working hours scheme:
Mondays-Thursdays Fridays Morning core time 09.30–11.45 09.30–11.45 Afternoon core time 14.00–16.00 14.00–15.30 Heads of Departments and Directorates do not participate.