VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Department for Health and Social Care: Remote Working

Asked by Sir John HayesConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 15 June 2026UIN 7979

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department permits civil servants employed in the UK to work from overseas on a regular basis.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock

The Department does not permit civil servants to work overseas on a regular basis. The Department has a policy for staff to work remotely overseas for short defined periods of time if travelling on official business, where there is a critical business need or unforeseen personal circumstance that require them to work while outside of the United Kingdom. All requests for international working are considered on a case‑by‑case basis, balancing a clear business need against security risks, with approval granted only where those risks can be appropriately mitigated.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim