§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) of 28 November 1997,Official Report, column 668, (1) if he will make it his policy to seek the consent of holders of public appointments to the publication of their individual ethnic origin; [19150]
(2) whether he will make it a condition of holding a public appointment that the holder should agree to the publication of information relating to the holder's ethnic origin; [19149]
(3) if applicants for membership of public bodies are required to state their ethnic origin; and if he will make a statement. [19148]
§ Dr. David ClarkThe First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Guidance emphasise the principle that public appointments should be made on merit. Individuals are selected because they have the skills, qualities and experience required by the public bodies in question. Disclosure of ethnic origin or a requirement to allow the publication of this information should not be a precondition of appointment.
In line with the Commissioner's Guidance, candidates for public appointments provide details of their ethnic origin on the basis of voluntary self-classification. This information is collected on the understanding that it is treated as confidential and will be used only for statistical purposes as part of the process to monitor the characteristics of those appointed to serve on public bodies.