§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will mark next year's International Year of Volunteers by spending a day working as a volunteer. [137432]
§ Mr. LockI refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary,Official Report, column 531W.
The Lord Chancellor fully supports the aims of the International Year of Volunteers. Everyone benefits from volunteering and the Prime Minister has issued a challenge to employers to give their employees paid time off to work in the community. From 1 August 2000 staff of the Lord Chancellor's Department and its executive agency, the Court Service, may take an additional day's paid leave for unspecified general voluntary work. The Lord Chancellor is himself considering possible voluntary activities during 2001.