§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. HeseltineThe Department undertook a voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of staff in post in 1987. This was supplemented by a series of follow-up surveys in 1990. A final survey is about to be carried out, in addition to a continuous survey of job applicants.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.
§ Mr. HeseltineThere are few top grade posts filled by direct recruitment. Where necessary, it is carried out through the Civil Service Commission; posts are advertised in the national press and relevant specialist publications on the basis of fair and open competition. Advertisements state that the Department is an equal opportunities employer.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. HeseltineThe latest available information on the numbers of(a) women and (b) ethnic minorities in grades 1 to 7 in my Department is:
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(a) Women at 1 March 1991 (b) Ethnic minorities2 at 1 February 1991 Grade Number of Women Percentage of Women Grade Number of ethnic minorities Percentage of ethnic minorities 1 0 0 1 0 0.0 2 1 13 2 0 0.0 (two from 30 (25 from 30 April 1991) April 1991 3 15 113 3 0 0.0 4 0 0 4 0 0.0 5 24 16 5 2 1.4 6 19 7 6 2 0.7 7 122 16 7 5 0.7 Total 170 13 Total 9 0.8 All Grades 3,210 43 All Grades 450 7.1 1 Changes at Grade 3 level consequent on promotion to Grade 2 not yet determined. 2 Based on information gained from voluntary surveys of staff; non-respondents not included.