HC Deb 25 November 1985 vol 87 cc608-9
38. Mr. Soley

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he last met the Civil Service unions; and what was discussed.

Mr. Luce

I have not yet had formal discussions with the Civil Service unions, but I met them informally on 29 October.

Mr. Soley

In view of his answer to the last two questions, will the Minister discuss with the unions the possibility of making it clear in all advertisements that the Civil Service is an equal opportunities employer? Will he discuss with them the placing of more advertisements in the ethnic minority press? Will he also discuss the possibility of making full-time appointments within the Civil Service to look at this? Finally, will the Minister look at the discrepancy between the number of men and women who are seconded to industry, because the percentage of women is considerably lower?

Mr. Luce

There are many issues that I and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who also carries responsibility for industrial relations in the Civil Service, discuss with the unions. I am glad that the majority of unions give their fullest support to the principle of equality of opportunity. That is right. However, I should point out that a number of ethnic surveys are taking place with regard to recruitment and the general breakdown within the Civil Service. They will take some time to complete. The objective is to ensure that we fulfil the basic principle of equality of opportunity.

Mr. Spencer

Will my hon. Friend encourage the representatives of the Civil Service unions to go to Leicester to see the contribution that the Asian community has made to the free enterprise society and draw their conclusions accordingly?

Mr. Luce

I agree with everything that my hon. and learned Friend has said.

Dr. McDonald

Is the Minister aware that the Government have recently accepted the case put by the Inland Revenue Staff Federation for more staff and that 3,500 extra jobs are now to be created in the Inland Revenue? Is he also aware that the number of recipients of the main social security benefits—unemployment benefit, supplementary allowance and family income supplement—have virtually doubled since 1979 and that the DHSS staff cannot cope with the increased work load? Will he discuss with his ministerial colleagues the possibility of vastly increasing the number of staff in the DHSS to ensure that those in urgent and desperate need receive their money as quickly as possible?

Mr. Luce

The number of staff in the DHSS is principally a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. I should tell the hon. Lady that there are certain sectors, including tax inspectors and some special professional groups, where we are losing good people, and for that reason we have introduced a system of special additions to ensure that recruitment, retention and motivation are right for those people.