To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the conditions of service are of staff employed at GCHQ; and if he will make a statement. (85571)

I have been asked to reply.

Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is an autonomous Department under the ministerial responsibility of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Staff at GCHQ are members of the Home Civil Service.

Terms of employment and conditions of service for GCHQ are laid out in the GCHQ Staff Handbook and are based upon the Civil Service Management Code produced by the Cabinet Office.