HC Deb 09 January 2002 vol 377 cc877-8W
Mr. Challen

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps her Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis. [21834]

Mrs. Liddell

A number of alternative working patterns, including home working, are available to staff in the Scotland Office. Currently no staff within the Scotland Office work permanently from home, although some do so on an occasional basis. In a recent survey staff were invited to declare an interest in alternative working. My Department is considering the survey results with a view to setting up pilot studies into a number of alternative working patterns.