Surely the minister for government efficiency should be ensuring that the civil service taps as much national talent as possible and fulfils the spirit and letter of equal opportunities legislation, not returning us to the factory hours of the 19th century (Jacob Rees-Mogg says civil servants must return to the office, 19 April).
Traditional set-ups tend to favour men, particularly at the top. The rigidity of the traditional working day makes it harder for parents (most often women) to re-enter the workforce until their children are old enough for paid childcare. For some the cost is so prohibitive that it delays their return much longer.
