HC Deb 23 July 1999 vol 335 c668W
Mr. Roy

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to publish the fourth annual Civil Service Fast Stream report. [93259]

Dr. Jack Cunningham

I have today placed in the Libraries of the House the Fourth Annual Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment Report. It covers the year from 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999, and reports the results of Fast Stream competitions completed during that period and action undertaken for future competitions.

The report shows that in most areas the Civil Service did not fill all its Fast Stream vacancies in 1998, in line with the experience of other major employers. Recruits continued to be drawn from a variety of backgrounds and the standard of entry to the Fast Stream Development Programme has remained consistently high. Despite the fall in numbers, the quality of the applicant field has continued to increase.