§ 82. Mr. Wareingasked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has to change the system of recruitment into the Civil Service.
§ The Minister of State, Privy Council Office (Mr. Richard Luce)There are no plans to change the basic principles of fair and open competition and selection on merit in Civil Service recruitment. Changes are continually being made to the detailed procedures to meet the changing needs of the Civil Service and of the labour market.
§ Mr. WareingAlthough it is now 17 years since the Fulton report was produced, is the Minister aware that the administration group of the home Civil Service—and, even more, the equivalent grades in the diplomatic service— are overwhelmingly dominated by the products of Oxbridge? Is it not time that we ended this elitism in the Civil Service and introduced some democracy? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, and is he content with the fact, that 70 per cent. of those recruited into the home Civil Service administration groups in recent years have been the products of Oxford and Cambridge? Can it be that the other universities are no use at all in turning out our higher officials in Government service?
§ Mr. LuceOur sole interest must be to get the best people for the Civil Service. [Interruption.] We have a fair and open system, based on merit. [Interruption.] I hope that the hon. Gentleman will listen to this answer, because it may be of some interest to him. Whereas, in 1982, 75 per cent. of the recruits for the high fliers in the Civil Service were from Oxbridge, at the end of 1986 the proportion was down to 46 per cent. the hon. Gentleman will see that a much broader range of hackgrounds is now coming into the Civil Service.
§ Sir Geoffrey FinsbergDoes my right hon. Friend accept that those who have to deal with the administrative sections of the Civil Service think that they are extremely good and do not want them mucked up with some sort of equality nonsense from the Opposition?
§ Mr. LuceI agree entirely with my hon. Friend. The thing that really matters in the Civil Service is that the system should be fair and open and that we choose people on merit, irrespective of their background.
§ Dr. McDonaldAs we are considering recruitment, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that civil servants will be recruited to staff the management centres for the Government data network? Will he also ensure that any exchange of information between Departments when the network is established will come under parliamentary 17 scrutiny, bearing in mind the fact that information about individuals from the Department of Employment, the Home Office or the Department of Health and Social Security could be put together in a package, thus posing an obvious threat to civil liberties?