Departmental Leave Entitlement

HC Deb 06 February 2002 vol 379 cc945-6W

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in his Department in each of the last four years. [31743]

Mr. Bradshaw

In 1998, leave entitlements for FCO staff in the UK were as follows:

Grade	Days
(a) Up to Higher Executive Officer1
On entry	22
After one year	25
After 15 years (HEO equivalent)	30
After 18 years (up to EO equivalent)

Grade	Days
(b) HEOD equivalent up to Senior Management Structure2
On entry	25
After 10 years	30
Senior Management Structure	30
1HEO equivalent (except HEO Development (HEOD) equivalent)
2 Senior Civil Service equivalent

Notes:

1. In January 2000, all staff at (a) became entitled to 25 days leave on entry and 30 days after 12 years. Staff at (b) became entitled to 30 days after 10 years.

2. In January 2002, all staff at (a) and (b) had their entitlements increased to 25 days on entry and 30 days after 10 years.

Staff serving overseas are entitled to additional leave. In 1998 it was between four and 14 days (on a seven day week basis) depending on grade and length of service. After several changes, the entitlement is now five or 10 days (on a five day week basis) depending on grade and length of service.