HC Deb 05 March 1990 vol 168 cc470-1W
Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken, and what action he intends taking, to implement the recommendations within his area of responsibility of the European Commission's childcare network report: "Caring for Children—Services and Policies for Childcare and Equal Opportunities in the United Kingdom".

Mr. Wakeham

My Department is aware of the recommendations made in the child care network report prepared for the Commission of the European Communities. It is participating in interdepartmental studies into the feasibility of providing child care facilities in London and the surrounding areas.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many of his Department's management training courses include sessions on equal opportunities for women; and what proportion of managers at grade six level and above working outside headquarters has received training on equal opportunities for women.

Mr. Wakeham

All the Department's staff management courses include training on equal opportunities for women. A total of 33 per cent. of staff at grade six level or above outside headquarters have received equal opportunities training.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of employees; what child care provision for school holidays or after-school ca re is provided for employees' children aged five years or over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

Mr. Wakeham

My Department does not provide child care facilities, and has no current plans to do so.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what grade is his Department's equal opportunities officer.

Mr. Wakeham

Grade five.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy 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. Wakeham

The Department's selection criteria for recruitment and promotion are designed not to discriminate against mature students or women returning to work. Advertisements do not contain upper age limits, and do mention returning to work and the Department's flexible approach to working hours, part-time working and special leave for career break purposes. Promotion board procedures include monitoring decisions at each stage for compliance with equal opportunities policies.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of civil servants in his Department are women at each of the grades(a) seven, (b) six, (c) five,(d) four, (e) three, (f) two and (g) one.

Mr. Wakeham

There are no women in grades one to four; at grade five, 14 per cent. are women, at grade six, 4 per cent. and at grade seven, 11 per cent.