Written questions by Bloore.

Media and Sport, whether the Football Governance Code will stipulate requirements for independent directors to be included in a club's governance structure.

It will be the responsibility of the Independent Football Regulator to determine the key elements of the Football Governance Code, including whether independent directors should be included. The drafting of the Football Governance Code will be done in consultation with the FA and other stakeholders with an interest in safeguarding the long-term future of our national game. It is the norm for all corporate governance codes to have detail and guidance on INED’s included, and we do not expect the Football Governance Code to be any different. The Regulator will publish the Football Governance Code, guidance around this, and an annual report highlighting best practice and where certain clubs are failing to meet the standards. The Regulator will adopt a collaborative approach wherever possible and will meet regularly with clubs to ensure they are meeting the requirements set out by the legislation.

Whether her Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Attorney General’s Office offers carers emergency leave for dependants with pay in accordance with the department’s special leave policy. Employees can take time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant or are able to request other leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer-term arrangements.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The government defines kinship care as "any situation in which a child is being raised in the care of a friend or family member who is not their parent". The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) offers support to employees who become kinship carers, similar to the support provided to foster carers. The entitlements include:Additional leave during the approval process or when a child is in placement: employees can receive an additional 5 days of paid or unpaid leave in a 12-month period at the discretion of their line manager. This leave can be used for meetings, training, unforeseen emergencies related to their fostering role, or to accommodate an emergency placement.Additional leave at the start of a planned permanent placement: employees are entitled to additional discretionary special paid leave for up to 10 days in a 12-month period. If both parents are employed by the FCDO, one parent would receive up to 10 days, and the other up to 5 days.These provisions ensure that employees who take on the important role of kinship carers have the necessary support and flexibility to manage their responsibilities effectively. Staff also have a statutory right to take unpaid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant.

Whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Scotland Office does not employ any staff directly. All staff that join, do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government departments, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government, who remain the employers. They remain on the terms and conditions of their parent department and can access all schemes and assistance that are available through those departments.

Whether her Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Department for Transport does not currently offer paid time off or support specifically for kinship carers. This is something that the department along with other government bodies is reviewing.The department does offer support including paid and unpaid special leave for those with parental and caring responsibilities. It sponsors a Carers’ Network and a Families’ Network for staff. DfT employees have access to an Employee Assistance Programme which can help signpost them to sources of advice and support on a range of issues.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The department does not have a policy which explicitly covers paid time off for staff who become kinship carers, but there are other provisions which may be applicable depending on the individual circumstances. In addition to annual leave and flexitime (if eligible), the following is available:Staff are able to make two requests for flexible working in a 12-month period in order to reach the right work/life balance for themIn addition to the statutory right to reasonable unpaid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant, and the statutory right to five days unpaid leave for those with caring responsibilities, we offer:o an additional five days’ off as paid leave for carerso an additional five days’ off as paid leave for those with dependentsUp to 18 weeks unpaid Parental Leave where the member of staff has acquired legal parental responsibility for the childUnpaid Special Leave and Career Breaks

Whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Ministry of Defence does not have a policy which explicitly covers paid time off work and other support to employees who become kinship carers. This applies to both Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel. Employees are able to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant or are able to request other leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer term arrangements.

Whether her Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Cabinet Office does not currently specifically offer (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. However, the Cabinet Office has other mechanisms in place to support employees who are kinship carers, in parity with other forms of care leave.

Whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Ministry of Justice offers paid time off work, in the form of special leave, for kinship carers who have parental responsibility.Special leave may be granted to employees who need time off work to attend to their caring responsibilities. It may be planned or unplanned, and paid or unpaid. Employees may request special leave for several reasons including:where normal care arrangements break down and other arrangements must be made.to care for a sick or injured child if no other arrangements can be made.At the discretion of a manager, special leave may be granted for other personal reasons not mentioned above.Kinship carers with parental responsibility also have a statutory entitlement to unpaid parental leave.All Ministry of Justice employees who are kinship carers have access to:a comprehensive flexible working policy which all employees can access via the intranet.the employee assistance programme which offers a wide range of support to staff including confidential advice on personal, social or work-related problems.a variety of staff networks aimed at people with caring responsibilities.

Whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Department does not offer paid time off work specifically for kinship care. However, the Department does offer unpaid carer’s leave and both paid and unpaid special leave for employees who have caring responsibilities for dependants, either family or friends, which can include kinship.

Communities and Local Government, whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

We do not have a policy which explicitly covers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. Employees are able to take paid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant, and non-emergency medical appointments. In addition, employees are able to request other unpaid leave to provide or arrange care for a long-term care need, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer-term arrangements.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Department does not offer paid time off work specifically for kinship care. However, the Department does offer unpaid carer’s leave and both paid and unpaid special leave for employees who have caring responsibilities for dependants, either family or friends, which can include kinship care.

Whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

Home Office employees who are carers have a statutory right to take up to a week’s unpaid leave in any rolling 12-month period to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. The statutory entitlement is for unpaid leave, but managers may at their discretion choose to offer up to 5 days per annum of paid special leave.Other forms of support available for employees who are kinship carers are Emergency Leave for Dependants of up to 5 days, flexible working arrangements, job sharing, career breaks and Unpaid Parental Leave.

Whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

HM Treasury recognises the importance of providing a supportive workplace for employees who have caring responsibilities. We do not have a policy which explicitly covers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. Employees are able to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant or are able to request other leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer term care arrangements. Each case is considered on an individual basis.

Whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

Employees can apply for five days paid special leave as a friends and family carer, this can be increased to ten days in a 12-month period.Employees also have the statutory right to take up to a week’s unpaid leave in any 12-month period, to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need.DBT has an Employee Assistance Programme which provides impartial and confidential advice, counselling and online resources for all employees. The department also has a Carer’s group which is a support network for carers working at DBT

Whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the response provided by the Cabinet Office (33179).

Whether her Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

We do not have a policy which explicitly covers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. Employees are able to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant or are able to request other leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request a combination of flexible working patterns, special leave and adjusted duties depending on their specific needs.

Whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The Northern Ireland Office does not have a policy which explicitly covers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. We follow the Ministry of Justice Flexible Working and Special Leave Policies, which supports and enables employees to take time off work to deal with an emergency or situation involving a dependant.Employees are able to request other leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer term arrangements.

Media and Sport, whether her Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

We do not have a policy which explicitly covers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. Employees are able to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant or are able to request other leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer term arrangements.

Whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

We do not have a policy which explicitly covers paid time off work and other support to employees who become kinship carers. Employees can take time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant or are able to request other special leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer-term arrangements.As with all requests for time off under our policies, each case is taken on a case-by-case basis, and consideration to grant requests, either paid or unpaid, taken in line with our provisions.