Moaning mandarins block WFH statistics from being made public

MOANING mandarins are in a Whitehall work-from-home war with ministers.

The civil service “blob” has blocked the latest stats which would show who is and isn’t back in the office.

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Government Efficiencies Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg published the first name-and-shame list in April to lay bare the feeble attendance rate in departments.

But new figures are being kept from the public, despite Downing Street pushing to have them released, ideally every week.

A source said yesterday: “The blob machine is doing what they always do when they don’t want something out in the open — they say it might be illegal. It’s all game-playing.”

April’s figures showed just 25 per cent of desks were filled at the Department for Education.

Yet The Sun understands Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has catapulted his team up the board by demanding they come in most days.

The Work and Pensions department was second last on 27 per cent, while the Cabinet Office was top with 69 per cent.

Mr Rees-Mogg wants “full capacity” to drive the post-Covid recovery — but a government source said there are not enough desks for every civil servant.

A spokesman said: “We have seen significant increases in occupancy which continues to be closely monitored.”