§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent the adoption of policies on race relations and equal opportunities for women, agreed with his departmental trade unions in 1984, included monitoring in accordance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and of the Equal Opportunities Commission, respectively.
§ Mr. ButcherThe policies agreed with our departmental trades unions in 1984 and in subsequent years made provision for monitoring ethnic origin (which is now in hand, or proposed) in the following areas:
- Recruitment
- Promotion
- Career development
- Training
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has carried out monitoring exercises in accordance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and of the Equal Opportunities Commission respectively.
§ Mr. ButcherYes. The DTI has contributed towards the following reports published by the Cabinet Office
Ethnic Origin Surveys. Non-industrial staff in the Civil Service: London and the South East of England" 1987.Report on a Trial Recruitment Survey" 1987.Equal Opportunities for Women in the Civil Service: Progress Report 1984–1987" April 1988.Copies of these have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the ethnic monitoring survey of all staff was undertaken; and what that survey revealed concerning past effects of employment practices in his Department.
§ Mr. ButcherAn ethnic monitoring survey of DTI staff was completed in April 1988. The information obtained is now being prepared for analysts to see what indications it gives.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what positive action he has taken in order to remove the effects of past inequalities in employment in accordance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and of the Equal Opportunities Commission, respectively;
(2) how and when he has made all departmental staff aware of their personal responsibility to ensure equality of opportunity; and whether he has taken any steps to ensure equality of opportunity in his Department.
§ Mr. ButcherI refer the hon. and learned Member to my answer to his question given in theOfficial Report for 27 May at column 370.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any plans to improve equality of opportunity for women and for people from ethnic minorities in all grades of his Department, in connection with employment, training and promotion, respectively.
§ Mr. ButcherInformation on equal opportunities has been and is being collected and will be analysed to see whether any further action is necessary.
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§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department provides specific language or other courses for black personnel.
§ Mr. ButcherNo. All training opportunities are available to black personnel as to other staff in the DTI.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has appointed an equal opportunities officer.
§ Mr. ButcherYes. An equal opportunity officer was appointed in this Department in 1984.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of officers in each grade and overall in his Department are women and from ethnic minorities, respectively.
§ Mr. ButcherThe figures for non-industrial staff as at 1 June 1988, and by groups of grades, are as follows:
Female Number Percentage Grades 1–7 132 9.5 SEO-EO and similar (other than* below) 1,029 33.3 AO and AA 2,341 59.4 *Technical and scientific 245 15.1 Typing and Secretarial 1,089 98.6 *Insolvency and Patents grades 199 18.9 Office support 736 69.7 TOTAL 5,771 43.5
Ethnic origin of staff who contributed to the DTI's ethnic classification monitoring survey (as at June 1988) Other Percentage Grades 1–7 21 1.7 SEO and similar (other than* below) 152 5.6 AO and AA 559 17.0 *Technical and scientific 86 6.5 Typing and secretarial 147 15.4 *Insolvency and Patents grades 58 6.2 Office support 31 3.5 TOTAL 1,054 9.3 Note: These figures represent 85.5 per cent. of DTI staff. Staff not included are those who did not respond to the survey, declined to participate, were employed on a casual basis, or who were employed outside the Department.