§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the achievability of his target for ethnic minority representation in the Senior Civil Service in the period to 2004–05. [82914]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamThe Modernising Government White Paper sets Service-wide targets to increase the number of ethnic minority staff in the Senior Civil Service. The target for 2004–05 is that 3.2 per cent. of the Senior Civil Service will be from ethnic minority backgrounds.
This target is challenging, but achievable. It is based on an assessment of current trends and the potential impact of action we are taking. This action includes identifying and bringing on existing ethnic minority staff with potential, and ensuring all steps are taken to attract ethnic minority applicants for posts in the Service.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to set further targets for ethnic minority representation in the Senior Civil Service after 2004–05. [82913]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamThe Modernising Government White Paper sets out the Government's commitment to tackle the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service.
Addressing this is a top priority. The target for 2004–05 is the first step. We will want to monitor progress against this and consider further action in the light of it.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what monitoring he proposes to undertake with regard to his target for ethnic minority representation in the Senior Civil Service. [82915]
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§ Dr. Jack CunninghamWe will monitor the target centrally to assess progress across the Service. Each Department will measure its own progress and report regularly on it.