Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to increase equality network time in the Civil Service during core working hours.

There are currently no centrally set time allocation limits for cross Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion networks. Due to the delegated nature of the Civil Service, departments are able to set their own limits on these network time allocations.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion networks offer valuable support to the Civil Service, for example, inputting to policy development, creating collaborative spaces, building a sense of belonging, and in promoting us to work across-departments.

Work is underway to develop guidance to assist EDI networks to support Civil Service organisations in achieving a positive workplace culture that helps to improve delivery, innovation and creativity.