CPS Cycle to Work Scheme
The request and our responses appear below:
This is a data request both under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations.
In consideration of the climate crisis, I would like to request the following information about how the organisation is enabling staff to reduce their emissions through sustainable transport, and more specifically, cycling.
1) Over the past five years, broken down by year -
a) How many staff members used the Cycle to Work scheme?
b) What percentage of staff was this?
c) What was the average value of the vouchers claimed on the scheme?
d) What was the number of those who took up the scheme, who then failed to complete, leaving the organisation with costs?
Information held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) indicates the following in response to a) to d) of part one, broken down by the last five financial years: -
| Data relating to the CPS Cycle to Work Scheme | 2018/2019 | 2019/2020 | 2020/2021 | 2021/2022 | 2022/2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How many staff members used the Cycle to Work scheme? | 75 | 56 | 126 | 98 | 77 |
| What percentage of staff was this? | 1.25% | 0.91% | 1.88% | 1.40% | 1.03% |
| What was the average value of the vouchers claimed on the scheme? | £769.73 | £696.96 | £977.17 | £1330.88 | £1389.26 |
| What was the number of those who took up the scheme, who then failed to complete, leaving the organisation with costs? | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2) What tools does the organisation use to encourage cycling for their staff –
a) On a work basis
b) On a leisure/health basis
The CPS has a broad range of wellbeing initiatives to support colleagues and to help them make informed choices about both their physical and mental wellbeing. This includes advice on being active – which could include cycling and other sports. Through our Individual Learning Allowance (ILA) scheme, funding is available towards resources to support physical wellbeing and an active lifestyle – including, for example, books or apps relating to cycling.
On our CPS wellbeing intranet pages, Cycle2Work is promoted to staff under guidance on ‘physical health’ – specifically linking the scheme to cycling’s various wellbeing benefits. It is also referenced as one of many cost-saving benefits available to CPS colleagues as part of a ‘financial wellbeing toolkit’ launching for CPS employees in May 2023. In addition, the Cycle2Work scheme is regularly promoted on our CPS Rewards portal – highlighting not only the financial savings and environmentally friendly benefits of the scheme, but also how it helps people make healthier lifestyle choices.
3) with regards to staff, does the organisation –
a) have any monitoring for what modes of transport staff use -
i) for their journey to work
ii) for journeys during work time
b) and if this data is recorded, I request a copy of such data as detailed as it can be reasonably given, while still protecting personal data rights
The CPS holds no recorded information within the scope of part three.
4) how many of the following does the organisation have available for staff use -
a) pedal cycles
b) electric bikes
c) motorbikes
d) internal combustion cars
e) electric or hybrid cars
f) internal combustion vans
g) electric or hybrid vans
h) heavy trucks
The CPS holds no recorded information within scope of part four.
5) Does the organisation mileage scheme clearly state the claim rate for cycling
The claim rate for travel by Pedal Cycle is set out within the Rates of Travel and Subsistence as part of the Travel and Subsistence code (20p per mile).
6) How many cycling miles have been claimed by the organisation's staff in the past five years
The CPS does not centrally collate the information requested in question six. Such claims are made under the category of Public Transport, and a manual review of individual staff expense claims would be required in order to establish whether a claim made under Public Transport relates to the use of a Pedal cycle.
Section 12(1) of the FOI Act means public authorities are not obliged to comply with a request for information if it estimates the cost of complying would exceed the appropriate limit. The appropriate limit for central government is set at £600. This means that the appropriate limit will be exceeded if it would require more than 24 hours' work in determining whether the CPS holds the information, and locating, retrieving, and extracting the information.
We believe the cost of interrogating the expense claims of individual staff members across a period of five years would exceed the appropriate limit. Consequently, we are not obliged to comply with question six.
7) Regarding your current cycle to work scheme –
a) what scheme is currently in place
The scheme is provided by Cyclescheme (Blackhawk Network Limited) (www.cyclescheme.co.uk)
b) what is the maximum limit on the cost of a bike, if a limit is currently in place
The scheme limit is £5000, which applies to bikes, e-bikes, and accessories.