§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of entrants to his Department from the ethnic minorities in the years 1985–86 and 1986–87; if he will also list the monitoring procedures used to ascertain the percentage of the work force represented by ethnic minorities and their patterns of promotion; and what are his methods of recruitment of minorities into his Department.
§ Mr. ScottThe ethnic origins of new entrants have been surveyed since October 1985. The latest available information for the period up to 30 September 1986 is as follows:
Total new entrants to the Northern Ireland Office in period 1 October 1985 to 30 September 1986 Ethnic origins Number white 5 black/asian 3 not stated 2 Total 10 A phased programme of departmental surveys of the ethnic origin of non-industrial civil servants by means of voluntary self-classification is being conducted. By the end of 1986 all home civil servants (industrial as well as non-industrial) in the Northern Ireland Office had been surveyed. Northern Ireland civil servants were not included in this survey since they are covered by a separate equal opportunities monitoring system adapted to the different needs and circumstances of Northern Ireland.
143WConsideration is being given to ways of using the data on the ethnic origin of staff-in-post to monitor promotion.
All departmental recruitment is conducted on the basis of fair and open competition and selection is on merit. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Privy Council Office, on 20 February 1987 at columns 880–81, reporting the arrangements being made to encourage people from the ethnic minorities to apply to the Civil Service.