§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at the Lord Advocate's Department.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonResponsibility for the recruitment of senior grades lies with the Civil Service Commission. Grade 1 to 7 posts in the Lord Advocate's Department are almost exclusively staffed by lawyers. The extent to which ethnic minority groups are represented in the legal profession in Scotland is mirrored in recruitment.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1 to 7) and overall in the Lord Advocate's Department are(a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAs at 1 April 1990 there were 1,087 employees in the Lord Advocate's Department. Of this number 707 (65 per cent.) were women and 4 (0.3 per cent.) from ethnic minorities. The breakdown within grades 1 to 7 is as follows:
Grades Total number of employees Women Ethnic minorities Number Percentage Number Percentage 1–4 15.5 nil (0) nil (0) 5 32.5 2 (6.1) nil (0) 6 40.0 3 (7.5) nil (0) 7 118.0 48 (40.6) 1 (0.8)
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Lord Advocate's 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.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonFollowing the 1987 survey the employment of persons from ethnic minorities is constantly monitored at all grades. There are no plans to make a statement at this time.