§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 770, he will list the equal opportunities policies which his equal opportunities unit has formulated since its introduction; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. RidleyIn addition to its work in helping to promote and implement equal opportunities generally, the unit has dealt with specific departmental policy statements on part-time working and job-sharing, encouragement of women to become promotion board members, special leave for staff with domestic responsibilities and other personal reasons, reinstatement after a break in employment, and the provision of personnel management services for disabled staff.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 771, he will list the measures implemented by his Department to reduce the risk of discrimination in recruitment and promotion.
§ Mr. RidleyMeasures implemented include the addition of a statement in job advertisements that the Department is an equal opportunity employer; training in equal opportunities for staff involved in recruitment and promotion; clearly defined non-discriminatory criteria for selection and promotion; and the recording of reasons for selection and promotion decisions. Monitoring of the ethnic origins of staff, now in progress on a voluntary basis, will provide useful information in this context.