HL Deb 12 June 1985 vol 464 cc1227-9

2.50 p.m.

Lord Rochester

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that the quantity and quality of adminis- tration trainees recruited to the Civil Service in 1984 is satisfactory.

The Minister Without Portfolio (Lord Young of Graffham)

Yes, my Lords. The numbers recruited in 1984 represented a substantial improvement over the two previous years. Although slightly fewer of the successful candidates were awarded the higher board marks, no one is recommended for appointment who is not fully up to standard in terms of ability and potential.

Lord Rochester

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in its report for 1984 the Civil Service Commission said that its recruitment experience suggested that a higher proportion of the most able undergraduates were unwilling to enter the Civil Service? Does he accept that the reason most often given by candidates for rejecting appointments was uncompetitive pay?

Lord Young of Graffham

No, my Lords; not at all. The Civil Service offers many compensations, though pay may not be one of them. But what I rejoice in—and I hope all of your Lordships' House will, too—is that the brightest and most able of our generation are now looking wider than the Civil Service for their future careers.

Lord Allen of Abbeydale

My Lords, is it not possible that rather more suitable recruits might be attracted if Ministers were sometimes to express greater appreciation of the help and assistance that they receive from the Civil Service?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, I should remind the House that I was a civil servant for five-and-a-half years before I came to your Lordships' House, and I am fully aware of the abilities of the Civil Service. But we should look at the facts. In 1984 the final selection board—I refer to administration trainees, which are the subject of the Question—had one Grade 1 (the first for many years) and although there were fewer Grade 2s (five, compared with 12 in 1983) there were 10 more Grade 3s. Looking overall at the balance of recruitment to the Civil Service I do not believe that we can see any sort of decline.

Lord Beloff

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the figures for 1984 reflect a wider area of recruitment, or is the Civil Service Commission, unlike its competitors in the private sector, still concerned only with universities south of the Wash?

Lord Young of Graffham

No, my Lords, the Civil Service has been looking to spread the net wider to encourage recruitment within the service. The difficulties which the Civil Service may have in seeking recruitment are not confined to the service. Some of our major banks have found that their recruitment attractions have become more difficult of late. It is because horizons have been broadened and our young people now find that there are many other activities.

Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran

My Lords, can the Minister, either now or later, say what percentage of the recruits in 1984, whom he refers to as the brightest and best, have either science or engineering training of some sort?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, 15 per cent.

Lord Glenamara

My Lords, can the noble Lord say how many administration trainees were recruited from the polytechnics, which now rival universities in both size and the quality of their output?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, I must confess that I shall have to write to the noble Lord with that information.