§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has appointed an equal opportunities officer.
§ Mr. StanleyThe Northern Ireland Civil Service has established an equal opportunities unit located within the Department of Finance and Personnel which is responsible for developing, formulating, co-ordinating and monitoring policy for the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The small home Civil Service part of the Northern Ireland Office has one equal opportunities officer who is at present a grade 7 officer (principal).
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. StanleyDetails of the programme of action being implemented by the Northern Ireland Civil Service to improve equality of opportunity of its female staff are given in the first and second reports of its equal opportunities unit, copies of which are in the Library. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is fully committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all its staff including those from ethnic minorities.
The Home Civil Service element of the Northern Ireland office is an equal opportunities employer. Personnel management is kept under review to ensure that equal opportunities policies are rigorously implemented.