§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the numbers of entrants to his Department from the ethnic minorities in the years 1985–86 and 1986–87; if he will also list the monitoring procedures used to ascertain the percentage of the work force represented by ethnic minorities and their patterns of promotion; and what are his methods of recruitment of minorities into the Department.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe ethnic origins of new entrants have been surveyed since October 1985. The latest available information for the period up to 1 February 1987 is as follows:
Total number of new entrants to the Department of Energy in the period 1 October 1985 to 1 February 1987 was 145 Ethnic origins: Number White 97 Black/Asian 27 not stated (includes non-respondents) 21 A phased programme of departmental surveys of the ethnic origins of non-industrial civil servants by means of voluntary self-classification is being conducted. By the end of 1986 all non-industrial staff had been surveyed. Consideration is being given to ways of using the data on the ethnic origin of staff in post of monitor promotion.
All departmental recruitment is conducted on the basis of fair and open competition and selection is on merit. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Privy Council Office on 20 February 1987 at columns 880–81 reporting the arrangements made to encourage people from the ethnic minorities to apply to the Civil Service.