§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made on the effect which the next steps programme will have on equal opportunities in public service employment; and what steps he is taking to monitor the effect.
Mr. DavisThe Government are committed to a policy aimed at ensuring equality of opportunity in civil service employment. It is the responsibility of all agency chief executives to implement that policy effectively within their organisations. Progress on equal opportunities across the civil service, including the agencies where 60 per cent. of civil servants now work, is monitored by OPSS. The latest progress reports on women and ethnic minorities, which continue to show steady improvement including increasing representation in management grades, were published last month and copies placed in the Library of the House. The progress report on disabled civil servants will be published in the spring.