§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career-break due to child care.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMy Department has implemented the following measures: high age limits for the main recruitment grades; the issue of guidance to members of selection and promotion boards which, inter alia, stresses the need to avoid direct or indirect discrimination on age or other grounds; fields of review for promotion which mean that length of service is not the major factor in determining promotion; staff who take career breaks and are later reinstated do so without any loss of seniority in their grade; and expansion of opportunities for part-time work, including job-sharing arrangements.