Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had recent discussions with the Welsh government on the potential impact of including (a) glass and (b) a reuse element in its deposit return scheme on cross-border businesses.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on the deposit return scheme, including through the Resources and Waste Common Framework.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of staff in her Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
My Department operates a hybrid working policy, which is available to all staff and enables them to work in a flexible way based on the needs of the Wales Office. No staff currently work compressed hours on a contractual basis.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of staff in her Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions her Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
We have no record of any staff failing to meet the minimum office attendance target for the latest period for which data is available.
On 24 October 2024, the Cabinet Office announced that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time.
If people do not meet that reasonable expectation, as with any management instruction it will be dealt with via existing performance management processes and ultimately with disciplinary action should there be sustained failure to comply.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
There are no requirements for civil servants in the Wales Office to book a desk in advance when attending the office workplaces. The Office does not have any arm’s length bodies.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 13970 on Wales Office: Buildings, how many staff attended the Department's HQ building in that period; and how many staff are assigned to that workplace.
Answered by Nia Griffith
The average number of staff attending the Department's HQ building in that period for which figures are available is 15. The Office currently has 24 civil servants assigned to its London Office.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the proposed increase in the number of Senedd members.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I have had no discussions with the Welsh Government on this matter in my capacity as Secretary of State, as the Bill became law prior to the General Election.
As would be expected, this government respects devolution and the powers of the Senedd to determine its representation and elections.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9283 on Wales Office: Buildings, what the average number of staff was that attended her Department's headquarters in the most recent working period for which figures are available.
Answered by Nia Griffith
The average number of staff attending the Department's HQ building in the most recent working period for which figures are available is 62%.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of her Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.
Answered by Nia Griffith
The Wales Office does not hold a record of the information requested.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of her Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.
Answered by Nia Griffith
The Wales Office currently has 24 civil servants assigned to its London Office and 21 assigned to its Cardiff Office. There are 28 desks available in the London Office and 15 desks in the Cardiff Office.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.
Answered by Nia Griffith
The Wales Office has not spent any money on new furniture and fittings and other refurbishments to Ministerial private offices since the dissolution of the last Parliament.