HC Deb 25 February 2002 vol 380 c731W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people are employed in her Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months. [35358]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The Department does not specifically employ staff on job share contracts; however, 12 per cent. of staff are employed under a range of part-time working patterns.

Job sharing is only one of a number of alternative working patterns that staff can take up. The Department promotes and supports the use of a range of flexible working patterns to enable staff to balance home and work responsibilities; other examples, besides part-time working, include condensed hours and home working.

Advertised vacancies in the Department are open to all staff, irrespective of their working arrangements or pattern of work.