UK-based officials at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are among those who can now apply to work overseas if they have second homes abroad or family ties to their chosen country.
The senior civil servants’ union, the First Division Association (FDA), first demanded the concession last year and again at this summer’s conference.
Now they have been given the go-ahead to work from the beach in “exceptional circumstances” following the long-running battle with ministers.
But the issue has angered Tory MPs who described the plans as ‘stark raving bonkers’.
Greg Smith, MP for Buckingham, reportedly told The Sunday Telegraph: “Hard-pressed taxpayers will be raising eyebrows across the country at the thought of civil servants kicking back, sipping cocktails on the beach whilst delivering public services.
“We need civil servants in Whitehall, in their offices, delivering on the priorities of this Government, not saying they’re working, from the beach – we all know the reality of that. Just doing your day job from the beach is preposterous.”
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, added: “This is absolutely stark raving bonkers. I’ve never heard something more idiotic, stupid and pointless for a long, long time.
“Working from overseas? I mean really? By the beach perhaps? In the sea? On a holiday? Really?
“If the Civil Service chiefs think that is sensible, then we need a complete clear out.
“You’ve got to ask yourself, of course, it’s not their money, it’s the taxpayers’ money, so they don’t care. Just bonkers.”
The public servants have now been told they can apply to work abroad for a maximum of two weeks a year if they are visiting friends and family overseas.
Instructions have been issued to Whitehall officials to increase the amount of time they spend working face-to-face with colleagues.
They have been told to spend 60 per cent of their time in the office or on official business rather than at home.
Senior managers have been ordered to provide ‘strong visible leadership’.
Officials who are early into their careers and those on development schemes will also be expected to spend more than three days a week in the office.
Offices at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office were only at 57 per cent capacity in the week commencing November 6.
Offices at HM Revenue and Customs were only at 55 per cent capacity in the same week, official Government data showed.
A Government spokesman said: “Civil servants are not allowed to work remotely overseas unless there are exceptional circumstances.
“We have always been clear on the benefits of collaborative face-to-face working.”
