§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what positive action he has taken to increase the proportion of employees of his Department who are drawn from ethnic minority groups; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdWe are committed to equal opportunities in employment, and keen to attract ethnic minority recruits into the Home Office. A number of measures have been taken to encourage suitable applications for those grades recruited directly by the Department. Advertisements emphasise our commitment to equal opportunities and have, where it is likely to be productive, been placed in the ethnic minority press or in local papers in areas with high ethnic minority populations. Links have been established with some local communities. In addition, all members of departmental recruitment boards receive training designed to ensure that all candidates, of whatever ethnic group, are treated fairly.
About 10 per cent. of respondents to a recent survey of new entrants to the Department stated that they were from ethnic minorities. But these groups are under represented in certain areas of work, and particular attention is being paid to possible ways of remedying this. For example, the prison service aptitude tests have been revised and are designed to ensure that they are free from cultural bias. All departmental recruitment schemes are now subject to ethnic monitoring, and we shall be using the information gathered to consider what further action may be needed.