HC Deb 14 May 1992 vol 207 cc194-5W
Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively, and overall in his Department are members of ethnic minorities.

Mr. Howard

Following is the information as at 1 February 1992:

Grade Number of Ethnic Minorities Percentage of Ethnic Minorities
1 0 0
2 0 0
3 0 0
4 0 0
5 2 1.3
6 2 0.7
7 5 0.6
Total 9 0.8
All grades 471 7.0

Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Howard

As part of the Department's implementation of the 1990 Office of the Minister for the Civil Service programme for action on race, a survey of staff whose ethnic origin was then unrecorded was carried out in 1991. A further survey is about to be launched.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

Mr. Howard

When the Department needs to fill a senior post requiring a special combination of experience and qualifications it runs an open recruitment supervised by the civil service commissioners. The recruitment literature states that the civil service is an equal opportunity employer. Selection is based on suitability for the post.