Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in his Department had caring responsibilities in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs

In Defra we follow the Civil Service Carers Charter, which details the support available for employees who have caring responsibilities and helps managers understand how they can support carers in the workplace. This includes support such as flexible working, job sharing, special leave (paid and unpaid), career breaks and parental leave.

We have a carer’s passport which is used to help employees discuss caring responsibilities, at present or in the future, with their line manager.

Other support for employees who are carers is available from our Employee Assistance Programme offering independent advice, information and counselling from trained practitioners, and our membership of Employers for Carers, the Employers Membership forum which is part of Carers UK.

Defra has an active employee-led Carers Network providing information, advice and support to all employees.