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Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade: Remote Working

Asked by Charlie DewhirstConservativeDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 23984

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what is the percentage office workplace attendance requirement in each of the department’s offices, broken down by location; and whether attendance statistics are collated for each of those individual offices.

Answered by Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (“BIST”) applies a consistent departmental workplace attendance expectation across its office estate. Delegated grade staff are expected to spend 40% of their time in the office while Senior Civil Servants and Early Careers colleagues are expected to attend 60% of the time.

BIST continues to operate a self-reporting attendance tool for staff from the former Department for Business and Trade (“DBT”) following recent Machinery of Government change. We have not yet finalised a position on future attendance reporting for all staff across the new Department.

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