Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Civil Servants: Return to the Office

Thursday 24 February 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Cabinet Office has followed central Government guidance to reduce workplace transmission risks and return to maximum capacity as staff begin to return to the office.
  • The spending review 2020 included provisions to reduce the number of people working in central Government.
  • Flexible working options are being considered to help staff acclimatise to returning to the office and to address wellbeing concerns.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robin Millar
Employment Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The question addresses the guidance provided by the UK Government for civil servants to return to their offices following the end of home-working during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support the return of civil servants to the office following the end of guidance to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Cabinet Office has followed central Government guidance to employers to reduce the risk of transmission in the workplace, so that all our buildings return to the maximum available capacity as soon as possible now that new restrictions have lifted.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specify any concrete steps or measures taken for civil servants' transition back to work.

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Q2 Jack Brereton Con
Context

The supplementary question builds on the initial question by addressing the need to reduce both the record numbers of people working in central Government and the civil servant headcount.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for that response. As well as getting Whitehall back to the office, and given the recent announcements about rolling back the state, does he agree that we should now focus on reducing both the record numbers of people working in central Government and the civil servant headcount?

Answer from Steve Barclay

I very much agree. My hon. Friend will have noticed that the spending review 2020 included a provision to do exactly that. However, the point is more nuanced, because this is also about empowering civil servants and taking away often the many layers so that the very good work of sometimes more junior civil servants can get to Ministers and senior decision makers. There is a fiscal benefit of this and an opportunity in how we better empower staff and, in turn, combine that with our learning and development offer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging the reduction in numbers, it does not provide specifics on timelines or concrete actions beyond mentioning the 2020 spending review.

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Q3 Robin Millar
Wales Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The supplementary question focuses on ensuring that any UK Government instructions to civil servants will also apply in Wales, given the continued work-from-home guidance by the Welsh Government.

Question

We all know that civil servants have a vital role in delivering and managing public services and it is essential that they can get on with that, so I welcome what has been described. However, will my right hon. Friend reassure my Aberconwy constituents by clarifying that any UK Government instruction to civil servants will also apply in Wales, where Welsh Government guidance remains to work at home?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We are clear, in relation to areas of reserved authority, that we are a UK Government—indeed, the Prime Minister is the Minister for the Union—and we have been clear on that in our messaging with Departments. The point is that many staff want to get back into the office, particularly those who do not have the benefit of a larger house, a garden and perhaps an office at home.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledges the concern but does not provide clear clarification on whether UK Government instructions apply in Wales.

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Q4 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Economy Employment
Context

The supplementary question suggests the idea of allowing flexible working for a short time to help reduced staff acclimatise to working closely with others again, mentioning benefits for workers and economic spin-off.

Question

It is very good to hear the Minister's positive response. Has the Department considered encouraging staff by allowing flexible working for a short time to allow reduced staff to acclimatise to working closely with others again? Not only is there a benefit for the workers, but there is a benefit from the economic spin-off of having people in offices so that the shops can also continue to thrive.

Answer from Steve Barclay

As an MP for a rural constituency, I absolutely recognise that point, as well as the issue of wellbeing relating to commuting times and other aspects, so this is part of a nuanced approach. However, the point is that the desks in Whitehall, for example, do not equate to the total number of full-time equivalent staff. There are already far fewer desks than FTEs, so if we are paying for office space, the question is why it would not be used. This is about using the office space that we have as well as recognising that there are opportunities for hybrid working.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Discusses hybrid working but does not specify if flexible working has been considered or implemented.

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