Ethnic Minorities (Hansard, 19 September 2003)

§ Keith Vaz
To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many ethnic minorities there are in each grade in his Department. [131739]

§ Mr. Lammy
The number of staff of minority ethnic origin by responsibility level is set out in the table below.
1037W

Ethnic Origin of Permanent Staff in the Department for Constitutional Affairs (including the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office) by Responsibility Level as at 31 August 2003

Grade equivalent Ethnic minority staff White staff Not known Total Ethnic minority as percentage of known ethnic origin

AA/AO 660 4,326 2,442 7,429 13.2

EO 333 1,763 789 2,885 15.9

HEO/SEO 131 1,193 459 1,783 9.9

Grade 6/7 26 364 179 569 6.7

SCS 0 81 36 117 0

Total 1,150 7,727 3,906 12,783 13

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what research he has undertaken to assess the implications of the ending of the free legal advice and representation service to ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement; [128328]
(2) what factors underlay the decision to end the free legal advice and representation service to ethnic minorities; what the benefits are of the changes he is proposing; and if he will make a statement.[128329]

§ Mr. Lammy
I have assumed that the hon. Member is referring to the effect on the services currently provided to ethnic minority clients by the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS), following the proposed transfer of funding from the Home Office to the Legal Services Commission.

Closing arrears totals¹

£

Courthouse/area 1999–2000² 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Gateshead n/a n/a 461,028.08 439,039.30

Newcastle upon Tyne 563,330.36 589,787.61 979,945.41 967,089.08

North Tyneside 366,322.00 454,551.00 613.469.00 587,985.00

Sunderland n/a 502,039.19 600,256.41 607,341.86

South Tyneside 169,930.30 181,144.84 270,283.70 358,126.63

Northumbria MCC³ 2,008,365 2,763,505 3,201,597 3,157,655

England and Wales 227,361,076 225,908,941 246,481,521 276,870,306

¹The amount of the 'closing balance owed' that is in arrears.

²Current information collection commenced in 1999–2000 and data is not available prior to that year.

³To note: this data is incomplete, it does not include information on Houghton Le Spring.

Ethnic Origin of Permanent Staff in the Department for Constitutional Affairs (including the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office) by Responsibility Level as at 31 August 2003
Grade equivalent	Ethnic minority staff	White staff	Not known	Total	Ethnic minority as percentage of known ethnic origin
AA/AO	660	4,326	2,442	7,429	13.2
EO	333	1,763	789	2,885	15.9
HEO/SEO	131	1,193	459	1,783	9.9
Grade 6/7	26	364	179	569	6.7
SCS	0	81	36	117	0
Total	1,150	7,727	3,906	12,783	13

Closing arrears totals¹
£
Courthouse/area	1999–2000²	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Gateshead	n/a	n/a	461,028.08	439,039.30
Newcastle upon Tyne	563,330.36	589,787.61	979,945.41	967,089.08
North Tyneside	366,322.00	454,551.00	613.469.00	587,985.00
Sunderland	n/a	502,039.19	600,256.41	607,341.86
South Tyneside	169,930.30	181,144.84	270,283.70	358,126.63
Northumbria MCC³	2,008,365	2,763,505	3,201,597	3,157,655
England and Wales	227,361,076	225,908,941	246,481,521	276,870,306
¹The amount of the 'closing balance owed' that is in arrears.
²Current information collection commenced in 1999–2000 and data is not available prior to that year.
³To note: this data is incomplete, it does not include information on Houghton Le Spring.