§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to change the target for recruitment of people with disabilities to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement. [161959]
§ Mr. AlexanderThe Government remain committed to increasing the proportion of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. As of April 200:3, disabled staff accounted for 3.6 per cent. of the Civil service, up from 2.8 per cent. in 1995. A service-wide target has been set at 3.0per cent. disabled people in the senior Civil Service by 2004–05. There are no present plans to change this target.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent steps he has taken to in crease the number of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. [162010]
§ Mr. AlexanderThe Government remain committed to increasing the number of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. The Cabinet Office promotes outreach initiatives, including: a Summer Placement Scheme to encourage disabled applicants to join the graduate Fast Stream; and participation in WORK STEP, a Government initiative to help disabled people to progress to mainstream employment where appropriate.