Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expert groups her Department set up in each year since 1999. [213199]
Mr. Byrne:
Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual “Public Bodies” publication. “Public Bodies” also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of “Public Bodies” dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from:
Copies are also available in the Library for the reference of Members.
The Home Office published Public Bodies 2007 to supplement the central publication produced by Cabinet Office and will continue to do this on an annual basis. The document can be downloaded from:
Bob Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in her Department are authorised to work from home. [212523]
Mr. Byrne:
The Home Office does not keep a central record of those staff that are able or who have permission to work at home and obtaining this information could be done only at disproportionate cost.
Managers have discretion for deciding whether their staff work are allowed to work at home. The Department offers a range of flexible working patterns, including home working where this may be appropriate, to help staff balance both work and home responsibilities. Staff are allowed to work at home for a number of reasons and comprise both short-term and longer-term arrangements.
Departmental Official Hospitality
David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 897W, on departmental official hospitality, when she expects the list of hospitality received in 2007 by members of her Department's management board to be published. [215249]
Mr. Byrne:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave him on 7 May 2008, Official Report, column 885W.
Departmental Pay
Bob Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average pay per hour worked by (a) permanent and (b) temporary staff in her Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band. [212499]
Mr. Byrne:
The following two tables detail the average hourly rates of pay for Departmental staff, broken down by grade. Table 1 is for permanent employees and 8 July 2008 : Column 1433W
Table 2 is for non-permanent and contract employees. The figures cover staff in the core Department, UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau. All figures are taken from the May 2008 payroll.
The average pay figures are based on each employee's main salary payment (known as ‘national pay’). They do not include additional allowances such as London Weighting payments.
Table 1: Home Office average ‘national pay’ rates by grade
