HC Deb 04 March 1991 vol 187 cc38-9W
Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1–7) and overall in the department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.

Mr. Eggar

The number and percentage of women in each grade requested and the overall number in the Department are as follows:

Number Per cent.
Grade 1–3 0 0
Grade 4 2 25
Grade 5 26 21
Grade 6 114 27
Grade 7 46 25
Overall 1,525 54

We do not hold information on the ethnic origin of all our staff, but of those who have responded to the ethnic monitoring survey (98 per cent.) carried out last year, those from ethnic minorities were:

Number Per cent.
Grade 1–4 0 0
Grade 5–6 4 1
Grade 7 5 3
Overall 184 6.4

The survey was conducted on the understanding 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 what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

Mr. Eggar

Recruitment of grades above administrative officer is carried out by the Civil Service Commission which has taken steps to aid recruitment of members of the ethnic minorities. For the grades of administrative officer and below, where the Department recruits direct, we are trying to widen our recruitment field, particularly to those from ethnic minorities, by using centrally devised tests as an alternative to formal qualifications.

Mr. Janner

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

Mr. Eggar

A survey of the ethnic origins of staff was carried out last summer and the database is now continually updated as now staff join the Department. This Department launched its own programme of action to achieve equality of opportunity for people of ethnic minority origin in June last year. We have already achieved the objective to establish ethnic origin data on 98 per cent. of our staff.