Recruitment and Promotion

HC Deb 29 July 1988 vol 138 cc621-2W

Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science 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.

Mrs. Rumbold

For the grades of administration officer and below, where the Department recruits direct, we are trying to widen our recruitment field, particularly to married women returning to work and mature people, by using centrally devised tests as an alternative to formal qualifications. Staff are encouraged to return to the Department following a career break for child care or other circumstances and they retain the grade and seniority that they had achieved at the date of leaving. Promotion at all levels is based on ability.