§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps her Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis. [21823]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Lord Chancellor's Department introduced a major new flexible working package in 2001, including the option to work from home on a regular basis.
Any individual may seek to work from home for personal reasons, and staff are encouraged to make out a business case by using comprehensive guidance, available electronically, to consider feasible options. The department will support staff with the necessary equipment within the home environment where appropriate.
The Court Service has set up a pilot exercise to explore the merits of home working on a more extensive scale, to establish whether there are significant benefits to the organisation.
Currently there are fewer than 40 staff who work from home on a regular basis. However, we fully expect that number to increase.