§ Mr. VazTo ask the Attorney-General how many civil servants of each grade in his Department were of Asian origin, on 5 May. [726]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe numbers of civil servants of each grade in the Law Officers' Departments who are of Asian origin is as follows:
Treasury solicitor's department Number Senior civil service 1 Grade 6 1 Grade 7 15 Executive officer 5 Administrative grades 4 Secretarial grades 2 1 Includes two on loan to other departments.
The Government Property Lawyers Number Senior civil service 0 Grade 6 0 Grade 7 0 Executive Officer 2 Administrative Grades 0 Secretarial Grades 0
Crown Prosecution Service Number Senior civil service 0 Grade 6 1 Grade 7 0 Crown prosecutor 71 Executive officer 40 Administrative grades 91 Secretarial grades 6
Serious fraud office Number Senior civil service 0 Grade 6 0 Grade 7 0 Executive officer 4 Administrative grades 4 Secretarial grades 0 The figures set out the position at 5 May 1997 except in the case of the Crown Prosecution Service where the figures are based on information provided by staff as at 30 April 1997.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has to increase the number of ethnic minority employees in his Department. [727]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Departments for which I am responsible, in line with other Government Departments, are equal opportunity employers. They welcome applications from ethnic minorities and recruit staff on the basis of fair and open competition in 117W accordance with the guidelines published in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code "to find the best available person for the job considered on individual merit and regardless of race, gender or disability".
A number of initiatives exist designed to increase awareness of race issues and to monitor the effectiveness of equal opportunity policies. In addition the Crown Prosecution Service participates in mentoring and fellowship schemes offering assistance to undergraduates drawn from ethnic minorities.