HC Deb 04 July 1984 vol 63 cc163-4W
Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many black civil servants are employed by his Department at principal level or above in the work of his Department which is concerned with black ethnic minorities.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

This information is not available. The Department has not collected any information about the ethnic origins of staff, except for the purpose of two surveys of ethnic origins of non-industrial civil servants in the north-west and the county of Avon, which were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury in the House on 24 March 1983, at column 465.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many employees in his Department are currently taking part in job-share schemes.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

My Department has no formal job-sharing at present. Currently only two employees actually share jobs, although very many more work part-time. Consideration is being given to increasing the opportunities in the Department for more flexible working arrangements.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vacancies in his Department have been filled through the job release scheme in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

The numbers of vacancies are as follows:

Number
April 1981/March 1982 42
April 1982/March 1983 21
April 1983/March 1984 20
April 1984/to date 2

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any of those working in his Department are young people on the youth training scheme.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

No. However, one scheme is planned to start in September for 30 youths in the industrial section of the PSA's London region. A further scheme has been proposed in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport for introduction in the south-west regional office at Bristol: this is subject to further discussion with the trade unions.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many employees in his Department are currently allowed day release facilities or other assistance to encourage them to continue their education.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

75 staff currently enjoy day release facilities to continue their education. Beyond that, another 75 people receive financial assistance towards the cost of studying in their own time, for example, evening classes, correspondence courses and so on, and are given time off, with pay, for occasional daytime tutorials and examinations.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost to his Department of assistance given to employees to encourage them to continue their education in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

The figures for assistance towards further education for the last two years were:

Year Amount (£)
1982–83 18,179
1983–84 18,054

Before that, figures were kept jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, and the combined total in 1981–82 was £21,817.