HC Deb 30 April 1990 vol 171 cc721-2
55. Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how he intends to encourage people, particularly those who are university graduates, from the ethnic minorities, women with young children and the disabled, to consider the civil service as a career.

Mr. Luce

The civil service is developing a wide range of personnel policies to encourage recruitment from among all members of the community. These, together with a firm message about equal opportunities, are very much part of Civil Service Commission and departmental publicity about career opportunities.

Mr. Shaw

I welcome the Minister's statement that there will be a broadening of opportunities for minorities in recruitment to the civil service. Will he confirm that that will not affect the quality of the civil service, and that high-quality recruits will still be required? Will he also confirm that promotion and salary increases will be dependent on a high quality of public service in the future?

Mr. Luce

Of course I can reassure my hon. Friend that the first priority is to ensure that we have a civil service of the highest quality. Looking to the demographic changes of the 1990s, we must ensure that the fullest possible range of opportunities is available for people of all backgrounds, as that is in the interests of our service. I shall ensure there are adequate programmes to facilitate that, and to enable us to recruit women, people from ethnic minorities and disabled people who have the high qualities that we are looking for.

Mrs. Dunwoody

The Minister will accept that this work has been continuing for some time, and that the efforts of the civil service unions are to be commended. Will he tell us, however, when he expects women to be represented equally with men in the ranks of the permanent secretaries?

Mr. Luce

The policy is not to go for equal representation for any part of the community, but to ensure that there is equality of opportunity for all people, whether or not they are women and whatever their background. We must concentrate our efforts on that. I accept that it is unsatisfactory that among the top grades only 6 per cent. are women. We must ensure that the promotional avenues are fully open to women; their numbers are increasing, but appointments must be made on the basis of merit.