§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of employees; what child care provision for school holidays or after-school care is provided for employees' children aged five years or over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe department is currently conducting a comprehensive survey of child care needs in London. The possibilities for providing child care facilities outside London are also being investigated. Pre-school child care facilities are planned for the driver and vehicle licensing centre in Swansea. Holiday playschools are also made available to the Department's staff in both Swansea and London. The Department provides accommodation for all these schemes. Future plans will be considered in the light of current surveys.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken, and what action he intends taking, to implement the recommendations within his area of responsibility of the European Commission's childcare network report "Caring for Children—Services and Policies for Childcare and Equal Opportunities in the United Kingdom."
§ Mr. AtkinsThe report was prepared for the European Commission which has not yet developed any proposals. The Government believe that policy on child care is a matter for member states. The Government, through the Department of Health and the ministerial group on women's issues has encouraged the development of a range of high-quality child care options for both parents and employers.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of his Department's management training courses include sessions on equal opportunities for women; and what proportion of managers at grade six level and above working outside headquarters has received training on equal opportunities for women.
§ Mr. AtkinsMost general management courses include coverage of issues involving equal opportunities for women as part of general sessions on equal opportunities and one course, "Women in Management", includes a specific session on equal opportunities for women. There is no record of the number of grade 6, and above, officers who have recieved training on equal opportunities for women.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grade is his Department's equal opportunities officer.
§ Mr. AtkinsGrade five.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career-break due to child care.
§ Mr. AtkinsMy Department has a policy of fair and open competition in recruitment and promotion. Women 515W are encouraged to return to work by arrangements for reinstatement and by the availability of part-time working and job sharing. There are few upper age limits for recruitment. The criterion is that new entrants must be able to give effective service before retirement.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of civil servants in his Department are women at each of the grades(a) seven, (b) six, (c) five, (d) four, (e) three, (f) two and (g) one.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe proportions are as follows:
Per cent. Grade 7 6 Grade 6 2 Grade 5 9 Grade 4 None Grade 3 5 Grades 1 and 2 None