§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the applicants for the post of equal opportunities officer in his Department were (a) white 593W males, (b) white females, (c) males of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin or (d) females of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin.
§ Mr. LeeIt is not the practice in my Department to fill posts of this nature by inviting staff to apply for them. The departmental equal opportunities officer, and the associated network of officers in our civilian personnel divisions, have been designated on the basis of their overall suitability and not on the basis of sex or ethnic origin. These officers are responsible for other personnel matters in addition to equal opportunities.