Departmental Recruitment (Hansard, 23 November 1983)

§ Mr., Freeson
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy towards the recruitment of British subjects of ethnic minority origin with a view to their serving in his Department's divisions or areas concerning the needs of people from their area of origin; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Gummer
It is the policy of this Department that all people who are eligible under the nationality

1978 1979 1980 1981 1982

Fatal injuries 714 691 628 451 468

Incidence rate per 100,000 employees 3.2 3.0 2.8 2.1 2.3

Major injuries n.a. n.a. n.a. 12,319 12,001

Incidence rate per 100,000 employees n.a. n.a. n.a. 58.2 58.5

Other injuries 580,000 545,000 458,000 422,022 375,530

Incidence rate per 100,000 employees 2,600 2,420 2,070 2,000 1,830

(1) From 1981 to 1982, figures refer to cases reported under NADO. The definition of what constitutes "major injury" reflects the precise requirement of those regulations.

(2) For 1978 to 1980 the figures given are in respect of awards of industrial death benefit and industrial injury benefit and were compiled by the Department of Health and Social Security.

(3) Before 1981, records of non-fatal injuries did not distinguish those which involved major injury as defined by the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

§ Mr. Nellist
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures for the numbers of trainees, excluding those at college, suffering (a) fatal accidents, (b) accidents resulting in major injuries and (c) other accidents for each year of the youth opportunities programme, and show in each case the accident rate per 100,000 trainees participating in the scheme excluding those at college, taking the average for the year.

§ Mr. Gummer
[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1983, c. 53–54]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 14 November by my hon. Friend the Minister of State.—[Vol. 48, c. 319–320.]
Considerable care is needed where comparisons between accidents to young people on the youth opportunities programme and accidents to the general work force are concerned, and I am anxious to ensure that the hon. Member has figures which are as nearly comparable as possible. The Manpower Services Commission is currently reviewing the accident figures it has published in this light. I shall write to the hon. Member with as full a range of figures and comparisons as possible at an early date.
172W
qualifications shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their ability, qualifications and fitness for the work.
Recruitment schemes within this Department are normally designed to identify applicants who are suitable for a particular grade. Individuals are appointed on the basis of qualifications, knowledge, experience and personal qualities which enable them to undertake a range of duties appropriate to a grade. Recruitment to specific posts or types of work is mainly limited to specialist appointments.

	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Fatal injuries	714	691	628	451	468
Incidence rate per 100,000 employees	3.2	3.0	2.8	2.1	2.3
Major injuries	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	12,319	12,001
Incidence rate per 100,000 employees	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	58.2	58.5
Other injuries	580,000	545,000	458,000	422,022	375,530
Incidence rate per 100,000 employees	2,600	2,420	2,070	2,000	1,830
(1) From 1981 to 1982, figures refer to cases reported under NADO. The definition of what constitutes "major injury" reflects the precise requirement of those regulations.
(2) For 1978 to 1980 the figures given are in respect of awards of industrial death benefit and industrial injury benefit and were compiled by the Department of Health and Social Security.
(3) Before 1981, records of non-fatal injuries did not distinguish those which involved major injury as defined by the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.