§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the numbers from ethnic minority background who are employed in his private office and those of other Ministers in his Department; and what are the positions they occupy.
§ Mr. RidleyNo. My Department is, however, currently taking part in the central programme of ethnic surveys of civil servants. The programme is proceeding on a region-by-region basis, with the London and south-east region, where all my Department's private offices are located, due to be covered later this year. By agreement with the Civil Service unions, the information gathered on ethnic origins is subject to strict rules of confidentiality in relation to individuals.