§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to recruit women and members of ethnic minorities in the top grades of employment at his Department.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe home civil service and the Northern Ireland civil service are fully committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all applicants including women and ethnic minorities. Both civil services are equal opportunities employers and this is emphasised fully in all the recruiting campaigns and advertising.
If direct recruitment for certain senior posts in the Northern Ireland Office were to be necessary, it would be conducted with guidance from the Civil Service Commission.
Within Northern Ireland itself religion is a more significant equality of opportunity consideration than ethnic origin. Consequently the Northern Ireland civil service commissioners have not taken any specific action to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment nor have they any plans to do so. Their advertisements, however, state that applications are welcome for men and women.