§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's policy on sexual harassment at work; whether guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff; how many complaints have been reported in the past five years; and what disciplinary action has been taken.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe Civil Service policy on sexual harassment is set out in the programme of action to achieve equal opportunities for women in the Civil Service, which was published by Cabinet Office (then Management and Personnel Office) in 1984. Sexual harassment at work is not tolerated and is dealt with as a disciplinary matter through the usual complaints procedures.
The Department of Health and Social Security has brought this policy, together with guidance on complaints procedures, to the attention of all staff in a departmental circular.
Records are not kept of any complaints which are dealt with by immediate line management but serious complaints are referred to headquarters for appropriate action. There have been six such complaints since 1983 all involving harassment of female staff. The penalties imposed were a local warning as to future conduct (two cases), formal reprimand by headquarters (one case), a reprimand plus promotion bar (one case), a reprimand, promotion bar and incremental reduction (one case) and downgrading and a repromotion bar (one case).