§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of staff of her Department are members of the Territorial forces; and if she has a strategy to encourage members of staff in her Department to become members of the Territorial forces. [44067]
§ Ms HewittMy Department does not currently keep records of staff who are members of the Territorial forces. While there is no specific strategy to encourage staff to become members of the Territorial forces, my Department does grant special leave with pay of up to eight days a year (plus additional special leave without pay) for normal training. In the event of mobilisation of reserve forces, my Department would respond sympathetically to requests for staff to serve actively. Such absence would be unpaid but count as reckonable for pensions purposes.