§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the overall policy of the Civil Service with regard to(a) paid and (b) unpaid leave for staff to undertake voluntary public service.
§ Mr. Brooke[holding answer 27 February 1989]: Paid leave may be granted for a variety of voluntary public service activities which have statutory support, including local government work, magisterial duties and school governor business. Annual limits, ranging from three days to 24 days, apply to each activity and an individual may be granted a maximum of 24 days paid special leave in any one year.
132WUnpaid leave is granted at the discretion of the employing Department. It may be allowed in addition to paid leave for work with statutory bodies or given to staff engaged in activities on behalf of non-statutory "voluntary aid" bodies.