To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of staff of his Department and its non-departmental public bodies work flexibly or part-time; and what his Department’s policy is on making jobs available on a job-share or flexible basis. (301328)

The Department for International Development (DFID) provides a wide range of flexible working options.

Most staff work their contracted hours via the Flexible Working Hours Scheme. This offers flexibility on the hours worked and allows employees to work additional hours and convert them to leave, up to three days in every four-week period. Within this Flexible Working Hours Scheme, staff work alternative working patterns including reduced hours, compressed hours, job-sharing and term-time working. At July 2009, 144 Home Civil Servants worked part-time, equating to 8.6 per cent.

DFID’s policy is that unless there is a clear business reason all jobs are available on a job-share or flexible basis.

DFID does not have any responsibility for any executive agencies. Nor do we have any staff working in non-departmental public bodies.