§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy of sexual harassment at work; whether guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff; how many complaints have been reported in the past five years; and what disciplinary action has been taken.
§ Mr. CurryThe Civil Service policy on sexual harassment is set out in the programme of action to achieve equal opportunities for women in the Civil Service, which was published by the Cabinet Office (management and personnel office) in 1984. Sexual harassment at work is not tolerated and is dealt with as a disciplinary matter through the usual Civil Service complaints procedures. In my Department a network of sexual harassment contact officers has been set up and guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff.
Three formal complaints have been reported centrally to personnel division in the past five years; all were investigated and disciplinary action was taken as appropriate.