Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will provide a list of (a) professional staff networks and (b) social clubs operating within his Department; and if she will provide the (i) budgets and (ii) FTE staff time allocated to each group within each of the last three years.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) staff networks offer valuable peer support, raise awareness of the needs of staff, influence departmental policy and shape issues that cut across the diversity agenda such as career progression, leadership and culture. DIT has 11 professional staff networks.

Staff networks budget allocation aligns to network activity and the DIT Inclusion Framework. Allocation of funds is proportionate to network size and reviewed annually. The total budget for networks was £7000 in FY 20/21 and 21/22 and for FY19/20 it was £5090. Time allocated to staff network activity is agreed with line managers as a corporate contribution as part of the performance management process.

DIT staff may organise social groupings of their own volition; social clubs are not funded by DIT, and staff do not use contracted time to pursue or lead these activities. Therefore, there is no central monitoring of these activities.