§ 74. Mrs. Virginia Bottomleyasked the Minister for the Civil Service if the review of executive officer recruitment has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the results.
§ Mrs. BottomleyCan my right hon. Friend inform the House what aspects of executive officer recruitment the report will cover? Will he assure us that the intention of the report is that we have efficient and effective recruitment of executive officers—men and women—and that it is not planned to give special priority to women?
§ Mr. LuceI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that last point. The main criticisms relate to the recruitment time scale and the suitability of some recruits for specific types of executive officer work. The report will address those matters as well as, for example, the need to have greater flexibility in recruitment arrangements and the likely cost implications of selection methods. As I have said, the report is due shortly.
§ Mr. WinnickWill the Minister give us details of the procedures that are to be adopted when executive officers and others in the security service make complaints to an ombudsman? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reports that have appeared in the press about these changes in the security service should have been notified to the House and not made the subject of press leaks?