§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. CurryAfter a number of regional pilot studies in the early 1980s the Department completed its survey in 1987 of the ethnic origins of staff by means of voluntary questionnaires. The database is kept up to date with the addition of information on new staff and leavers.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1–7) and overall in the Ministry are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.
§ Mr. CurryThe information requested, as at 1 April 1990, is set out in the table. Ethnic origin figures derive from a voluntary questionnaire which about 90 per cent. of staff completed. Programmes of action to achieve equality of opportunity for women and people of ethnic minority origin in the civil service are in place in the Department.
By grade and grade equivalent Number of women Women as percentage of total staff Ethnic minority respondents to ethnic origin questionnaire Ethnic minority respondents as percentage of total respondents 1 — — — — 2 — — — — 3 1 4.2 — — 4 — — — — 5 10 9.0 1 0.93 6 10 7.6 1 0.79 7 121 12.5 9 0.99 All staff 4,624 44.7 399 4.10
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Ministry.
§ Mr. CurryThe Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunities. Senior grades are recruited on the Department's behalf by the Civil Service Commission following the principles of fair and open competition. The Commission has taken a series of measures to aid recruitment of members of the ethnic minorities including action on publicity, training and selection policy.