HC Deb 17 April 1989 vol 151 cc4-5W
Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6 and 7 respectively, and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities.

Mrs. Rumbold

The numbers and proportion of women at 1 September 1988 were:

Percentage
Grades 1 to 5 22 15
Grade 6 104 25
Grade 7 36 26
Overall 162 23

We do not hold information on the ethnic origin of all our staff but of those who have responded to the ethnic monitoring survey, those from ethnic minorities were:

Number
Grades 1 to 7 110
1 1.7 per cent. of respondents in those grades.

The survey was conducted on the undertaking that anonymity would be preserved. Any further breakdown of the figures could identify individuals and cannot therefore be provided.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

A survey of all the Department's employees was carried out in 1986 since when all new recruits have been asked to complete an ethnic monitoring questionnaire on a voluntary basis. We are proposing to conduct another survey later in the year.

Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

Mrs. Rumbold

Recruitment of grades above administrative officer is carried out by the Civil Service Commission.

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