Dr. Desmond TurnerTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she will take to promote volunteering among civil service employees during the International Year of Volunteering 2001. [126880]
§ Mr. StringerFollowing on from the Prime Minister's recent initiative to promote voluntary activity in the community, the Cabinet Office has written recently to all Departments and agencies encouraging them to allow and support their staff to undertake voluntary work through the provision of designated paid leave for that purpose. We will continue to promote this initiative throughout the year and into 2001. We are currently in consultation with colleagues in other Departments over what we intend to do specifically during the International Year of Volunteering.