§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff at his Department are locally elected democratic representatives; and if he has a strategy for his Department to encourage members of staff to become locally elected democratic representatives. [44545]
§ Dr. MoonieRecords of members of staff who are locally elected democratic representatives are not maintained centrally and so it is not possible to provide an estimate without disproportionate cost. It is the Ministry of Defence's policy to allow civilian staff, at all levels, to take full advantage of the special paid leave20W provisions which allow officers who are elected members of a local authority to take up to 18 days' leave each year to attend to their duties which require absence during working hours.