§ Mr. Fordasked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps the Civil Service is taking to promote equal opportunities in its employment; and what consideration is given to the requirements of ethnic minorities.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe Civil Service has a policy of equal opportunity which provides that all eligible persons shall have equal opportunity for employment and advancement on the basis of their ability, qualifications and fitness for the work.
As the hon. Member may know, a joint review group was set up in 1980 to review the development of employment opportunities for women in the Civil Service. 437W The review group has now completed its work and its report, entitled "Equal Opportunities for Women in the Civil Service" will be published on 16 December by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. In addition, volume 1 of the report on the pilot ethnic survey of some civil servants in Leeds was published on 29 November. Volume 2 of this report, covering the ethnic survey of applicants for Civil Service posts in Leeds, will be published early in 1983. The implications of the survey will be considered once the results of the job applicant part of the survey are known. At the same time a service-wide review of the impact of personnel policies and procedures on members of the ethnic minorities is being undertaken. A report on this will be available in spring 1983.