§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) who is responsible for shortlisting applicants for vacancies in the administrative staff of the Western Health and Social Services Board; and who is responsible for choosing the interviewing panel;
(2) if he is satisfied that the appointments to administrative posts made by the Western Health and Social Services 561W Board over the last 12 months have been in accordance with the recognised standards of equal and fair opportunity of employment; and what steps are taken to ensure that there is equal and fair opportunity for all applicants.
§ Mr. AlisonI am satisfied that the appointments made over the last 12 months have been in accordance with the recognised standards. Under a code of employment procedure, appointments to all posts in the health and personal social services must be made by health and social services boards in accordance with standard selection and appointment procedures, which are designed specifically to ensure fairness in appointments and equality of employment opportunity without regard to religious political or racial considerations. Depending upon the level of appointment to be made appointment panels can comprise board members and/or officers selected by the board or its chief or district administrative officer as laid down by the procedures. Panels for senior appointments must also include the director of the NI Staffs Council—or his representative—and independent assessors selected by the board from lists maintained by the Staffs Council. The shortlisting of applicants for vacancies in the administrative staff of the Western Board is undertaken by shortlisting and appointment panels constituted in accordance with the procedures.